Auburn may have limped into its bowl game, but there are plenty of reasons why the Tigers can end the season on a good note.

First-year Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin can’t be happy with the way his inaugural season ended. The Tigers lost 4 consecutive games to end the regular season, and in about every painful way that one could imagine. There was a devastating comeback defeat, a one-sided loss to an underdog and another collapse against Auburn’s archrival, Alabama, that could have changed the entire tenor of college football’s postseason as well as Auburn’s bowl fate. With all of that, Auburn finished the season 6-6 and 3-5 in the SEC. Because of that last month, Auburn got a bus trip to the Birmingham Bowl against Houston instead of a flight to a sunny bowl destination against an opponent with much more cache.

The Tigers had better leave those bruised feelings behind, or they’ll get little benefit out of postseason play — and there’s plenty to be gained. Harsin needs more time with his team, which he received with the extra practice time this month. Auburn will also have a chance to end the season on a high note, which certainly wasn’t the case when the Tigers ended the regular season.

Here are 5 reasons why Auburn will win the Birmingham Bowl:

Quarterback clarity

Former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix made it readily apparent that he wasn’t staying on The Plains much longer. He leaked some of that information via public interviews — even just moments before the Alabama game during a sideline interview. Auburn’s quarterback room is better with Nix in it, but with him gone, the Tigers can move on. T.J. Finley is the unquestioned starting quarterback against Houston. With Nix out of the running, Auburn coaches can make sure the game plan for Houston is tailored to Finley’s strengths. This will help against Houston, and it should also allow Harsin to determine if Finley is indeed the person who will lead Auburn moving forward.

The unknown

Harsin had to spend much of the season preparing Nix and Finley for the Tigers’ upcoming opponents. That wasn’t easy considering both quarterbacks have far different styles. The extra preparation time will give Harsin a chance to focus on Finley’s strengths. It could also freshen up a running game that was battered over the course of the season. Harsin and his offensive staff had better have a good plan in mind. Finley won’t be able to extend plays like Nix could. With a shaky offensive line, that could be a huge pitfall. Finely isn’t a runner. However, some rollouts and designed runs could keep Houston off balance. The old Nix offense won’t surprise anyone.

D-front dominance

Auburn’s defensive line has looked good to great for most of the season. The Alabama game was proof of that. As long as Auburn is motivated to play Houston, the Tigers should win the line of scrimmage whenever the Cougars have the ball. Of course, that’s contingent upon Auburn having the right frame of mind for the Birmingham Bowl, which lacks some luster. For those with the future on their minds, having the right mindset heading into this game should be no issue. Several Auburn players will be playing to improve their Draft status, while others will be making an early case for more playing time next season.

Opt-out advantage

Auburn won’t field the same team that it began the season with — not even close. The Tigers’ starting center, Nick Brahms, will miss the Birmingham Bowl because of knee surgery. Offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm, linebacker Zakoby McClain and cornerback Roger McCreary will also miss the game. They have opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. However, opt-outs should help Auburn as well. Houston will be without one of its best players: cornerback Marcus Jones. After winning the Paul Hornung Award as the top defensive back in college football, Jones decided it was time to prepare for the NFL. Auburn has lost more players in terms of quantity, but Jones is the best player to decide he’ll pass on the Birmingham Bowl. That should help Auburn and, especially, Finley.

Proximity and schedule

This is obvious. Auburn doesn’t have to pack tractor trailers full of equipment to spend a week in Florida, although that would have been preferred. Harsin can treat the Birmingham Bowl much like he would any other game. It’s not a week-long stay in which players can find trouble in a new city. This trip will be like an extended road game. There will be some bowl events, chicanery and shenanigans to deal with, but for the most part, this is just a bowl game. The proximity to Auburn’s campus will also give more fans an opportunity to attend the game. The Tigers should have a significant homefield advantage.