The Mountaineer game is going to be a tough one. Hopefully, the Zips can come up with a great game plan and execute well to grab the victory. It is certainly a game that I look forward to seeing. However, I have to chime in on this MAC vs. Sun Belt topic that has been hinted at.
It's hard to put a lot of stock in whatever happens in bowl games, especially using those results to rank the strength of conferences, they are meaningless post-season exhibitions. Before the advent of the BCS, they added something into the calculation for the Mythical National Champion, but since 1998, the only post season games that have mattered have been the semi-final and championship games. All others have meant sweet F.A. Bragging rights only.
That being said, however, Georgia Southern destroyed Bowling Green in the Go Daddy Bowl last year. This was a GS team that was in its first year of bowl eligibility against the MIGHTY MAC champ; a MAC champ that disemboweled the Zips. After that dark day in October as the Zips took that long ride home from Wood County after a 59-10 shellacking, there were many on this board that put forth the notion that the Zips had nothing to be ashamed of because the Falcons were really, really, really, really, really, really good. The Eagles must not have read that thread.
Helpful hint to anyone that may ever feel like they might want to. . . No MAC fan should ever look down on any other conference. Just sayin'.
I don't know a whole lot about ASU, but I am impressed by their level of fan support. Obviously, ASU students and alumni would rather watch their alma mater play in person rather than staying home to watch UNC, NCSU, WF or Duke. School pride! A concept that never took on a foothold in the MAC.
If you do make it up to the game, stop by the tailgate and introduce yourself, AppinSC. We are actually pretty nice for a bunch of damn Yankees.