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Auburn discusses challenge of facing UCF QB McKenzie Milton in Peach Bowl
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The UCF Knights are undefeated and eager to prove they can hang with the big boys when they take on the Auburn Tigers in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day.
In order to win, though, QB McKenzie Milton is going to have to do what not many players have been able to do this year — beat the Auburn defense through the air.
Milton is one of the nation’s leading passers, though, so if anyone can do it, it’s him. This week, Auburn DC Kevin Steele said Milton’s ability to keep plays alive reminds him a lot of former Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson (via 247Sports):
“He’s got a little bit of the Shea Patterson type player, if you will, keeping plays alive, moving around in the pocket, can extend plays with his legs in the run as well as the pass,” Steele said.
S Stephen Roberts agreed with Steele, adding that the Auburn secondary is going to have to make sure they defend longer than they normally have to so Milton can’t extend plays:
“He’s a pretty good quarterback,” Roberts said. “He’s a playmaker, he’s going to extend the plays so we got to be on top and on top of our coverages and keep in him in the well. That’s one thing we’ve been practicing on this week, that’s big.”
Of course, this is all easier said than done, but Auburn’s defense has been elite this year, so the Tigers will be eager for the challenge.
The Peach Bowl kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time on New Year’s Day and can be seen on ESPN.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
