It would be funny if we lost to Appalachia State. We lost vicariously to them in 2007. They beat Michigan and then Michigan spanked our secondary for the win in the bowl game.
I honestly don't count any stats, wins, or losses after November unless it is for the conference or national championship. The players do not gain anything (both the bowl game winners and losers gain Nintendo Wii, t-shirts, and shoes, so that does not count), so I will go out on a limb here and say that many teams do not play 100% unless an on-field leader can motivate them to do so.
You do have a good point about the infamous trap game syndrome. We could get caught looking ahead to South Carolina and lose against Vandy or Appalachia State.