There are very few things more disheartening among SEC than the prospects of spending the bowl season at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana . But a mediocre season and somewhere around an 11th place finish in the toughest conferences 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! But this year, it means even more as the Indy Bowl is getting the band back together, bringing it’s SEC brethren back into that warm, possibly venereal disease-infested embrace that is the Red River twin cities.  And to commemorate this second chance at love, 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.  Ole Miss (3-3).  Two weeks in a row at the top.  This is truly the only rankings system where you can blow a 10 point lead with less than 7 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, at home mind you, and still maintain supremacy over the rest.  Auburn comes in to Oxford fresh off of the underwhelming performance of the year for the Tigers, and that’s saying something.  This game REEKS of typical Ole Miss where a team the Rebels should beat comes in to town only to see the Rebels lose to said team by double digits.  Baring that scenario, the Rebs are setting themselves up nicely to enjoy a little post-yule tide cheer in the Port City.

2. Tennessee (3-2).  Remaining idle may be the best way to move up in the polls.  UT stayed at home last week and just worked on their card counting system in the off chance they make it to the casino-studded coasts of the Red River for the holidays.  Three brutal weeks ahead followed by four extremely winnable games to get them under the bowl eligible tape at the line seems about right.

3.  Mizzou (3-3).  Anchored down at the third spot after the Dores went in to Columbia and filmed a little amateur  kicker porn for Mizzou… in front of women and children no less.  The Tigers get no favors this week with Alabama in town and then will have to try to piecemeal together 6 wins with Florida and Texas A&M still left on the schedule.

4.  Arkansas (2-4).  If there is one place that bad credit is welcomed, if not universally respected, it’s Shreveport…so John L. Smith could feel right at home come bowl time with a couple of more efforts like last Saturday.  But, if they lose to Kentucky at home this week, then proceed with your previous liquidating measures.

5.  Vandy (2-3).  Look, it was pretty much either them or Auburn, and don’t you think for a minute that the good Lord above doesn’t have his hand on that Auburn team and would therefore prevent them from even stepping foot into the purgatory, fire and brimstone, eternal damnation that is the Independence Bowl.*

Out of poll from last week: Texas A&M

*this analysis was approved by Jonna Chizik.  Amen.