NO. 10 UTC AT SAMFORD
3:30 p.m. EDT > Seibert Stadium, Birmingham, Ala. > 96.1 FM/ASN/SoCon Digital Network (online)
THE MATCHUP
The UTC defense is currently looked at as a weak spot. That’s not going to work against a high-powered Samford attack that is second nationally in the FCS, averaging 644 yards per game. The Bulldogs will try to spread out the Mocs, exploiting any sort of mismatch they can find along the way, and it’s going to be up to UTC to limit those opportunities.
ONE TO WATCH
Samford’s Michael Eubank leads an explosive Bulldogs attack, averaging more than 300 yards of total offense per game. The former Arizona State quarterback has completed 65 percent of his passes and has thrown his six touchdown passes to six receivers. If the Mocs are going to stop the Bulldogs’ offense, it’s going to start with getting pressure up front on Eubank.
IN THE END
The Mocs currently rank as the No. 10 team in the nation in one poll and No. 12 in another, but they’ve yet to look the part. The early-season schedule, which put so much emphasis on the season opener against Jacksonville State, might have led to a bit of a letdown against Mars Hill, which scored 34 points in only a 10-point loss. If the Mocs are serious about the championship aspirations they talked about in the preseason, the turnaround is going to have to start with the defense and it’s going to have to start today, but look for them to hold up their end of the bargain and for the offense to make a play or two when necessary to eke out a close win.
PREDICTION
Mocs 31, Samford 28
– Gene Henley