Auburn Football: 5 reasons Tigers will beat UCF in 2018 Peach Bowl
By Jacob Wilson
3. A stronger schedule has Auburn prepared
One of the toughest obstacles an underdog faces when taking on a stronger opponent is calming their nerves. Oftentimes it’s the favorite who has seen it all. Whether it be suppressing a comeback or making one, a top-of-the-line team has done it before, usually more than once. It effects nerves more than anything else, giving the favorite a huge boost in most contests.
This season alone, Auburn has faced off against four top 10 teams. They lost their first to No. 3 Clemson, won their next two against a pair of number ones in Georgia and Alabama, but lost in the SEC Championship to the No. 6 Bulldogs. As for UCF, their biggest win came at home against No. 20 Memphis.
Outside of their win against Memphis, UCF has only had a handful of close games against the likes of SMU, Connecticut, and South Florida. While it has certainly been an impressive season for the Knights, little has prepared them for some of the situations they might find themselves in during one of the most prestigious bowl games of the week.