{"id":20129,"date":"2018-12-31T21:00:01","date_gmt":"2019-01-01T02:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosoncfb.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=20129"},"modified":"2022-01-04T19:45:15","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T00:45:15","slug":"2019-fiesta-bowl-preview-lsu-vs-ucf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2018\/12\/31\/2019-fiesta-bowl-preview-lsu-vs-ucf\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Fiesta Bowl Preview: LSU vs. UCF"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the second consecutive season, the #7 UCF Knights finished with an undefeated regular season. Also for another year, the Knights have drawn an SEC opponent in a New Year’s Six Bowl. However, this season will be a bit different without junior quarterback\u00a0McKenzie Milton<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>leading the Knights. Redshirt freshman Darriel Mack Jr.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is coming off of a six-touchdown performance in the AAC conference championship.<\/p>\n

The #11 LSU Tigers look to put an end to the 25 game win streak of the Knights from Central Florida. Having already faced the toughest schedule in college football, LSU is down to their last challenge and one win away from finishing with 10 on the season.<\/p>\n

Paths To Glendale, Arizona<\/h2>\n

Both teams took two completely different paths to reach this bowl game. For LSU, they’ve had to swim through the shark-infested waters of the SEC West. Even more impressive is that LSU was able to do so with a first-time starter at quarterback in Joe Burrow<\/a><\/strong>. That didn’t stop the Tigers momentum as they beat three teams that were ranked within the top ten.<\/p>\n

Offensively, the Tigers stuck to the ground game behind Nick Brossette\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>and his 14 rushing touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Justin Jefferson<\/a><\/strong> led the team in receptions, touchdowns, and yards. Defensively, the Tigers remained as advertised with one of the best units in the country. Led by linebacker Devin White<\/a><\/strong>, that decided to play in the bowl game although he will forego his senior season entering the NFL Draft. For the Fiesta Bowl, LSU will be without All-SEC cornerback Greedy Williams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The UCF Knights entered the 2018 season riding high off of the previous undefeated season but without former coach Scott Frost<\/a><\/strong>. New head coach Josh Heupel<\/a><\/strong> had his work cut out following his predecessor and succeeded even while losing his leader in Milton. After only beating the Memphis Tigers by a point in the regular season, the Knights secured another AAC championship beating them by 15 in a rematch.<\/p>\n

The UCF offense has scored 35 points or more points in all but one game this season. In their high powered offense where the passing game receives all the credit, the Knights running backs have rushed for over 2,000 yards. Former walk-on running back Greg McCrea<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is averaging over nine yards a carry and has 1,100 yards rushing to add to his nine touchdowns. Adrian Killins<\/a><\/strong> is a change of pace back to the offense and has four touchdowns rushing as well as receiving.<\/p>\n

Keys To The Game<\/h2>\n