Sly Stallone and the Port City…a natural match.

There are very few things more disheartening among SEC fans than the prospects of spending the bowl season at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana . But a mediocre season and an 8th place finish in the toughest conference in the land will get you some nice parting gifts and an all expenses paid trip to the Port City. Teams and fans alike are sure to enjoy the oppressive heat, street violence, and…hey look, casinos! Every week FOTP will be taking a look at which SEC teams have the best chance of going bowling in East Texas the third most glamorous city in the Bayou State.

1)  Random MAC/Sun Belt team.  This dismal scenario becomes more and more probable with each passing day.  There will need to be some epic, historic, Old Testament vengeful God type of events in order for the Indy Bowl to avoid this fate.  The upsets that would need to take place in the next two weeks are too exhaustive and improbable to really discuss at length, but a proper analysis would involve Arkansas, Auburn, and the words “Bowl Eligible”…so we’ll just leave it at that.

2)  Louisiana Tech.  And low, out of the thick fog of dispair comes a shining beacon of hope and direction, a savior dressed in blue and red bringing with it a built in fan base and regional appeal!  As odd as it may sound, the mighty Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech may be the Independence Bowl’s saving grace.  The Dawgs got bowl eligible last week and would only enhance their status with wins against New Mexico State and Nevada to finish out the season.  The WAC has 3 bowl tie-ins, but if the BCS does not take Boise St, then that could leave Tech open for an invite to Shreveport.  Contrary to popular belief, there are college graduates that live in Shreveport, and many of those went to Tech.  A bid for the Dawgs could boost the bowl’s attendance and add a little more local interest.

3)  Auburn.  The just need one win, but that ones a doosy.  The Tigers got one for Auburn’s own Frank Tolbert against the Tide last year and need lucky number 7 in order to get bowl eligible.  While they’ve won 6 straight over Bama, this is a whole different scenario since Auburn is struggling to resemble any sort of modern offense and Bama is surging, albeit with a mundane, slowly beat you with a blunt object until you submit type of precision.  As black and white as a Bama win looks, the slightly deflated, scrambling for his job Riverboat Gambler, may have just enough to spoil the Tide coronation.

4.  Arkansas.  Mathematically, they are still in the hunt, but we were never really that great at math.  That freshman College Algebra was a bastard.

5.  Vandy.  Became bowl eligible for the first time since 1982 last week.  Nothing like celebrating the exorcism of 26 years of futility by making a trip to one of the more futile desperate places in the south.  Unfortunately for the Port City, it looks like either the Liberty Bowl or Music City Bowl has the Dores on lockdown.