MAC has a good shot at ending up 3-4, far better than the 0-7 some feared. Tonight Kent attempts to complete a MAC-over-Sunbelt sweep when it plays Arkansas State. Ohio and CMU both beat Sunbelt teams, ULM and W. Kentucky, respectively.
In the go-daddy.com bowl both teams will have new coaches next year. In the case of Kent, Hazell showed the class to complete the year at Kent before starting up at Purdue. Meanwhile incoming coach Paul Haynes has also showed class, and has stayed in the background, meeting players, but generally acting like a fan until after the game. As a result, I think Kent should be focused, and the players should go about business, trying to win one last game for Hazell.
Meanwhile the situation at Arkansas State is considerably more messy. Malzahn has already moved on to Auburn, leaving Arkansas State in the hands of interim coach John Thompson, the defensive coordinator this year, and former head coach from East Carolina (career record 3-20). He will probably be gone after this game, though. The coach for Arkansas State next year, Bryan Harsin has been meeting with players, and announcing members of his staff. It seems to me that the players have to have a divided sense of loyalty - to Malzahn, to Thompson, and to Harsin.
Because I expect Kent to be the more focused, I'm picking Kent.
By the way, here's a list of the
overall Bowl records by conference since 1998, the beginning of the BCS system. A Kent win would move the MAC up to 44.9%, passing CUSA and the Big Tendozen, and put then neck and neck with the WAC.