MAC Championship Game

[WVAppsfan]

Okay watch the MAC Championship game on Friday night, 8:00 p.m. on ESPN 2....... Loser comes South?

[ASUchipman]

Im watching the MAC game. If we play NIU, I like our chances. They have a walk on freshman QB starting. They dont look too good on defense either.

[Gonzo]

NIU isn't a very fast team.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Would NIU still be considered the MAC #2 if they lose? I think about the 2012 SEC championship game against Bama and UGA. UGA and Florida both finished 7-1 in conference, but UGA won the head to head thus won the nod to play in the SEC title. They went on to lose to Bama, however Florida, not UGA got the bid for the Sugar Bowl (Bama went to the national championship). Just like if Iowa beats Michigan State, then Ohio State gets the Rose Bowl bid. It's to my understanding that losing in the championship game doesn't automatically put you in the #2 spot. I think it goes by final standings. NIU would have 3 losses behind Western Michigan and Toldeo. Could be different for the MAC. I could be wrong. I guess we find out Sunday.

[mountaineerman]

Wow they are opening holes up on offensive line like crazy!

[AppOrange]

After that half, I'm fine not playing Bowling Green

[appbio91]

After that half, I'm fine not playing Bowling Green

Yep, big, physical and fast

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[MDaniels84]

Bowling Green looks a lot like us as far as their run/pass ratio. They mix it up pretty well.

[S.Lewis15]

NIU won't quit

[AppAttack]

Bowling Green looks really strong despite the pick 6. I'm not scared but I'm fine not playing them!

[JTApps1]

Definitely glad BG will likely play GS. That up tempo offense would not be a good matchup for our D based off the Troy and stAte games.

[MDaniels84]

I will say this much... To me, not having a championship game in the belt was not that big of a deal to me initially. However, I think that to be considered on par with other G5 conferences, we really need one. It was strange seeing only us and the Big 12 without any championship game when they listed all of them playing out today and tomorrow.

[ELCubano1]

I was quite impressed with Bowling Green...big, physical and quick. I would LOVE to play them to test the quality of our team. Some of the comments on this board of not wanting to play them reminds me of Carolina not wanting to play us...Afraid to lose?

[hapapp]

Many MAC folks think we get Ohio.

[Capt. Ed]

Personally, I prefer an opponent better matched to our skills than Bowling Green. I'm hoping for a win or at least a close game. A win should quiet the anti FBS crowd, fires up our fan base, and, maybe helps us close the deal on a few more recruits.

[AppOrange]

I was quite impressed with Bowling Green...big, physical and quick. I would LOVE to play them to test the quality of our team. Some of the comments on this board of not wanting to play them reminds me of Carolina not wanting to play us...Afraid to lose?

Afraid, no, I think we will be the underdog with whoever we play and my hotel is still booked, but I do want to win and BG liked like ark state on steroids. We are building fbs depth and from a line standpoint, we are not their yet. I want as many wins as possible to keep momentum going and to have fun. I want to start collecting bowl championships banners for Kidd Brewer, and the win, at this point, is what matters, not so much the opponent. Is there really a Difference between Ohio, BG, and NIU from a name standpoint, to me, no, I just want to beat one of them and collect the hardware. BG would have been the biggest hurdle to accomplish that, and I think they are much further along than us at this point. Beat USA, Beat the MAC, 11 wins, make recruiting easier, win the sunbelt next year, earn an access bowl bid, beat a p5 in a New Years bowl. That's what I want.

[appbio91]

I thought BG was BIG on the lines. Ran up tempo which we have shown an inability to handle and their QB was a beast. Did anyone else see him plow head on full steam into the LB and jump right up. Most QB's would have take a slide or at least tried to minimize contact. That dude lowered his shoulder and went for it.

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[EastHallApp]

Having written the G5 Top 10 column all year, I've followed the top few teams in the MAC relatively closely. I'd say BG, Toledo and NIU (sometimes) are a cut above the rest. I actually think we'd be favored over any other MAC team. I think NIU would be basically a toss-up and BG or Toledo would be favored by a few points over us,

[ELCubano1]

I was quite impressed with Bowling Green...big, physical and quick. I would LOVE to play them to test the quality of our team. Some of the comments on this board of not wanting to play them reminds me of Carolina not wanting to play us...Afraid to lose?

Afraid, no, I think we will be the underdog with whoever we play and my hotel is still booked, but I do want to win and BG liked like ark state on steroids. We are building fbs depth and from a line standpoint, we are not their yet. I want as many wins as possible to keep momentum going and to have fun. I want to start collecting bowl championships banners for Kidd Brewer, and the win, at this point, is what matters, not so much the opponent. Is there really a Difference between Ohio, BG, and NIU from a name standpoint, to me, no, I just want to beat one of them and collect the hardware. BG would have been the biggest hurdle to accomplish that, and I think they are much further along than us at this point. Beat USA, Beat the MAC, 11 wins, make recruiting easier, win the sunbelt next year, earn an access bowl bid, beat a p5 in a New Years bowl. That's what I want.

App Orange, I'll agree with you that BG looks like StAte on steroids and how we're small across the offensive line, but I disagree entirely with your thoughts on just getting a win regardless of the opponent and also your justifications for shying away from an opponent.

First of all, resume building cannot be done by beating lesser opponents, the opponent does count or otherwise we would be ranked with our 10-2 record. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, is this thought process of shying away from particularly strong opponents. IMHO, you made no decent argument to substantiate that you're not afraid to lose. More importantly, when does a coaching staff and its' players go into any game with the mindset of losing a game before its' played or that they are going to lose that game? The 2007 game against Michigan comes to mind when we, as a FCS team, beat them using 27 players.

It is clear to me, at least, that you simply don't want to play BG because you don't think that we can beat them...This is called being "afraid to lose." I prefer the opposite. I want to play better teams because it gives us the OPPORTUNITY to do more...especially when these teams come from a G5 conference like ours. I welcome the challenge and would hope that the majority of people would want the same. Bring on BG and GO APPS!!!