The Samford Bulldogs. Reigning Southern Conference Champions. Pride of Homewood.
After a hot start against a loaded Shorter team, the Samford Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after a tough trip to North Carolina. What you need to know is Michael Vice caught a perfect pass from Michael Hiers in the first quarter.
The rest we chalk up to a bizarre weather delay.
With that being said, here are the four reasons the Bulldogs will shock the world on Saturday.
Number 4: Jet Lag.
Auburn is coming off a 2,438 mile journey from Berkley, California and everyone knows jet lag should not be taken lightly. Many people are saying the Tigers are exhausted from the California vacation and are already preparing for Texas A&M. You can't overlook an in-state rival. People forget the Jacksonville State OT game in 2015. Hatch Attack should not be taken lightly.
Number 3: Michael Hiers is good at football.
Michael Hiers, QB1. Before coming to Samford, Hiers spent two seasons at Northwest Mississippi Community College. In his final season at NMCC, he threw for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. Rivals ranked him as the #1 pro-style junior college quarterback in the nation. Hiers was recruited by college football blue-blood Penn State among others before deciding to come home to Birmingham and play at Samford. In his first year at Samford, he won SoCon Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 3,544 yards and 36 touchdowns and setting the single-season FCS record for completion percentage (77%). That accuracy was on display in week one when Hiers went 28/35 (80%) for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Don’t let Hiers get hot.
Number 2: All Streaks Must End
Auburn is 14-0 at home against Samford and everyone knows how hard it is to win 15 in a row. All streaks must come to an end and no better way to do it than under the lights in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Michael Hiers has SEC experience.
The Bulldogs held Georgia to only 3 points in the 3rd and 4th quarter in one of Georgia's closest games last year.
Number 1: Samford University. Homewood’s team.
Samford is an FCS team. However, Samford is a very good FCS team. They won the SoCon last year and made a deep run in the FCS playoffs. Coach Hatcher has built something special in Homewood, and Samford is ready to shock the world. Historically, FCS teams beat FBS teams about 14.3% of the time. Three FCS teams have already beaten FBS teams in 2023. Samford Bulldogs. Homewood's team. Next team to make history? Why not.
Final prediction: Samford 43 Tigers 38.