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.  Some random MAC/Mountain West/CUSA/Sun Belt abomination.  It’s the most disappointing scenario, and the most realistic at this point.  The Independence Bowl gets the 10th SEC bowl eligible team, and, as you know, the bottom half of the SEC is a dumpster fire filled with smoldering debris and losses to UL-Monroe.  Best case for the bowl is that Louisiana Tech or one of the handsome directional Louisiana schools gets a bid.

2. Ole Miss (5-3).  The Avoiding Shreveport poll is the only one where a modest winning streak will get you dropped in the rankings.  But here stand the Rebels, fresh off the unofficial “Battle for the Port City” victory in Little Rock, one win away from bowl eligibility.  If they can somehow get it, a lavish trip to Nashville or Memphis is more of a likely possibility.

3.  Vandy (4-4)  Even in Vanderbilt football’s golden age (I’m talking about right now, by the way), James Franklin is having trouble getting the type of support for his team that he’d like.  Never fear Coach, because if the Dores somehow make it to Shreveport, the locals will be so enthused about your team’s arrival that they’ll fill about 3/5th of the stadium…which would be above average compared to home games in Nashville.

4.  Tennessee (3-5)  Dooley might need to be fired just for not winning in nearly a month and yet still be a viable candidate to make this bowl.

5.  Mizzou (4-4) Drunkenly stumbling back into the top 5 after getting their first SEC win ever against Kentucky.  Just imagine the type of tshirt they’ll design if they make it to Shreveport!

Out of poll from last week: Arkansas, bad real estate investments