Samford vs. Auburn: Complete Game Preview

AUBURN, Ala. — In the span of two weeks, Auburn has gone from No. 3 in the nation with SEC Championship hopes to a team eliminated from title contention and looking to avoid a complete disappointment of a season.

Next week, the Tigers will travel to face a rival Alabama squad that is focused on reclaiming the divisional crown and getting revenge from last year's memorable loss in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Good thing Auburn has this weekend's matchup, a home game against FCS opponent Samford.

Auburn is coming off its worst offensive performance of the Gus Malzahn era and another disappointing day for defense and special teams against Georgia, who won 34-7 in Athens.

The Tigers have plenty of issues to correct before they face a hot Alabama team, making Saturday night's home finale less about the result and more about how they improve on the field.

Before we break down the game, which is a return to the Plains for former Auburn Heisman-winning quarterback and current Samford head coach Pat Sullivan, here are the quick basics you need to know:

• Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
• Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local)
• Place: Jordan-Hare Stadium; Auburn, Ala.
• TV: ESPNU
• Radio: Auburn IMG Sports Network
  
• Spread: N/A

Samford Keys to Success

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Samford HC Pat Sullivan in 2011

Move the Ball Through the Air

Georgia was content with just running the ball with Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb against Auburn last Saturday night, especially in the second half, but Hutson Mason was still able to average 12 yards per completion against the Tigers.

While Samford's offense is about as balanced as it can be, the Bulldogs will want to move the ball through the air against an Auburn defense that still has some major holes in its secondary.

Quarterback Michael Eubank, an accurate 6'6" passer who has some dual-threat tendencies, has developed a nice connection with top receiver Karel Hamilton. Look for Sullivan, a former Auburn passing legend, to dial up more than a few passing plays with his coaching staff Saturday night.

Frustrate Auburn's Passing Game

On the other side of the ball, Samford comes in with what is statistically one of the nation's best pass defenses in all divisions.

The Bulldogs allow only 134 yards per game through the air, and, even though they play some run-heavy outfits in the SOCON, holding opponents to just five passing touchdowns in 10 games is an impressive feat.

Auburn will be looking to get back on track through the air after what was a frustrating trip to Athens for Nick Marshall and a few drop-prone receivers. If Samford can continue its streak of success in pass defense against a much tougher opponent, attitudes could turn even more sour in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Force Turnovers

Auburn has been in the negative in the turnover battle during its back-to-back losses, and defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson lamented his defense's lack of takeaways during his Sunday night press conference.

Samford is slightly in the positive when it comes to turnover margin throughout its 2014 season and could extend the advantage against an Auburn team that has been on the wrong side of the giveaways recently.

The Bulldogs won't defeat a team of Auburn's strength—that is why the slide's header says "success" instead of "victory"—but a good day for them would include a few takeaways and excellent ball control against a team hoping to get a lot of frustrations out in its final home game of the season.

Auburn Keys to Success

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Auburn HC Gus Malzahn

Get the Offensive Rhythm Back

Saturday night's outcome shouldn't be in question, and a game like this is all about one thing—regrouping ahead of the Iron Bowl.

Auburn's offense is coming off its worst performance since Malzahn took over as head coach, making this the perfect time to get any miscommunication and execution errors out of the way before the trip to Tuscaloosa.

Malzahn won't try to run up the score against an FCS team, but it would be a relief for many fans to see a big number next to the home team's name on the scoreboard at the end of Saturday night's contest.

Improve Tackling

Much like the offense, the defense has a few areas it should correct against a live opponent Saturday.

The main one has to be tackling, an area the Tigers have regressed in since the first half of the season. Linebacker Kris Frost attributed the tackling downturn to overrunning plays and defenders not staying solid to their responsibilities, and the defense will be motivated to get that corrected this week.

Samford has a few offensive weapons who can generate explosive plays, and the last thing the Auburn defense wants to do is continue to struggle with whiffs against a major underdog. Keep an eye on how the Tigers tackle this weekend. 

Stay Healthy

And, of course, the last thing Auburn wants to see is a starter go down with an injury that would jeopardize his status for the upcoming matchup against Alabama.

The Tigers will use this week and this game to improve on several areas after a poor performance against Georgia, but the key will be in getting the improvements made without suffering any health problems.

This balance will be important, and in a season that cannot end in an SEC Championship or College Football Playoff berth, getting extra game reps for the younger players will also be important.

Samford Players to Watch

Jim Cowsert/Associated Press

Samford QB Michael Eubank

QB Michael Eubank

Eubank, a former Arizona State Sun Devil, transferred to Samford in January and quickly won the starting job at his new home.

He struggled with accuracy early in the season with low completion percentages and five interceptions through the first four games, but his numbers have drastically improved toward the end of his first campaign in Birmingham. In his last six games, he has completed at least 60 percent of his passes in each matchup with six touchdowns and zero interceptions to his name.

Eubank's load as a runner has dropped off significantly from the beginning of the year, as he ran for 16 times in the season opener against TCU and 22 times in a loss to SOCON leader Chattanooga. However, Eubank can still hurt defenses with his legs, so Auburn will have to focus on containing him Saturday.

WR Karel Hamilton

There is no question who Eubank's go-to receiver is.

Hamilton leads Samford with 50 catches, 810 yards and six touchdowns, and no one else is really close to his numbers. He is the only one with multiple scoring grabs this season, and the second-leading receiver only has 186 yards.

The sophomore uses his speed to make big plays downfield, and he has already developed a great connection with Eubank through just 10 games together. With the struggles Auburn has had against the pass, the Tigers cornerbacks will need to watch out for Hamilton. 

S Jaquiski Tartt

A two-time FCS All-American and under-the-radar pro prospect, Tartt will leave Samford as one of the school's all-time best defensive players.

Tartt is the leader of a tough secondary that doesn't force a lot of interceptions but has consistent success at keeping the opposition from recording explosive plays through the air. He also provides help in run support, making him one of the best all-around safeties in small school football.

Auburn will most likely look to hit Samford for a few big plays through the air, especially early in the game with Marshall at the helm, so keep an eye on Tartt as he tries to continue his team's strong performances against the pass.

Auburn Players to Watch

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Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson

QB Jeremy Johnson

Johnson received a few chances late in the blowout loss to Georgia, and he should have more snaps—for completely different reasons—against Samford.

Since the sophomore quarterback will be the man to replace Marshall after the end of this season, there is a chance fans will get to see a lot more of No. 6 through the last three games. His status as a package player dwindled as Marshall and the offense picked back up after the Mississippi State loss, but Malzahn and Co. will be heading back to the drawing board after a disastrous visit to Athens.

How early and how often Auburn uses Johnson against Samford will be an interesting storyline in what should be an easy blowout win.

RB Roc Thomas

Like Johnson, Thomas will be one to look out for against Samford, even though he has played a lot more in the first-team offense recently.

Thomas caught a pair of swing passes in Auburn's first and only successful drive against Georgia, and then the true freshman didn't record another stat until the final possession, when he lined up against Johnson. 

The Tigers won't want to see an injury to star running back Cameron Artis-Payne in a relatively meaningless game, so fans could see a steady dosage of the former blue-chip recruit Saturday night. 

S Jermaine Whitehead

Whitehead, who missed several games due to a suspension and a few more on special teams-only duty, returned to the starting lineup against Georgia for the first time since the San Jose State game.

The four-year starter will look to bring some more stability to a struggling defensive backfield, and another game with Whitehead at full capacity could be a much-needed boost ahead of the Iron Bowl.

Whitehead is definitely another starter the Tigers would like to get playing time Saturday night, but not too much. His lack of consistent snaps toward the end of the season will make his situation somewhat interesting against the Bulldogs, to say the least.

What They're Saying

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Auburn DC Ellis Johnson

Auburn

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee on the last two losses and the end of the season:

"

Last week was very disappointing, and this week was very disappointing. It's all about how you respond. As coaches, we've got to respond well if we want our players to respond well. We still have plenty to play for. We have a lot of opportunities, win No. 8 this weekend being one of them, and we have some things down the road that are important as well. This is a group that has won 19 games in less than two years. They know how to win. It's just a matter of playing a good game, getting a win and getting that good feeling back.

"

Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson on Saturday's game:

"

Right now we just have to get better. We're not even worried about who we're playing. I think Samford's got a really good football team. Obviously they're not in the same division we are. But we just need to play better. That would be a byproduct that hopefully will happen. But our starters and our rotators need to play well first, and have a good week of practice. When I'm standing here next Sunday we better be a better football team than we are today, or we're not going to be ready to play Alabama.

"

Senior tight end C.J. Uzomah on what he is looking for in his final home game:

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I think it's vital that we come out fast. I think the most important thing is no turnovers. No costly, selfish penalties. No cheap ones defensively or offensively. Just executing at a high level. I think if we do that and special teams has a few momentum plays here or there and we play fundamental, sound football, that's key to propelling us to the oncoming weeks.

"

Prediction

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Auburn WR Ricardo Louis, TE C.J. Uzomah and QB Nick Marshall

Samford has been a tough out in the FCS this season, putting together a 7-3 record thanks to tough defense and a balanced offense—a far cry from the 2-10 Western Carolina team that Auburn beat 62-3 last season.

TCU beat Samford 48-13 in its season opener, and the Bulldogs have definitely made some important strides since that trip to Fort Worth. Eubank is on a streak of impressive passing performances, and Samford as a whole has won four straight games.

Once again, this game will not be about who wins or even the margin of victory—unless, for some reason, Auburn struggles to put away Samford.

The Tigers need to show improvement in all three phases of the game, even if a lesser-quality opponent may skew the results and their perception. A game in which Auburn gets some momentum back on offense, puts together a strong defensive performance after several tough opponents, cleans up special teams errors and walks away completely healthy will be an A+ result for Malzahn and his team.

I have no idea how you can accurately predict a scoreline for a game like this, especially for someone who has been so off at picking games this season, but a game similar to Samford's contest against TCU sounds reasonable at this point.

Auburn 52, Samford 14

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.

Justin Ferguson is Bleacher Report's lead Auburn writer. Follow him on Twitter @JFergusonAU.