Bodog Beat

The Independence Bowl is usually tied in with the Big 12 and the SEC. (Wikimedia Images)

This year things turned out a little different, though, after both conferences failed to qualify enough teams for the bowl season to have a representative in this game. Instead the Northern Illinois Huskies and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs meet up, making it only the second time since 1998 the Big 12 and the SEC both missed the Independence Bowl.

The Huskies earned a bowl spot despite losing three of their final four games to end the season at 6-6. Northern Illinois survived on their defense this season, which was ranked No. 1 in the MAC and 18th overall in all of college football. The Huskies’ last bowl appearance was in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl, but they haven’t won a bowl game since the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl.

The Bulldogs were 7-5 in the WAC this season after winning four of their final five contests to qualify for a bowl game. It’s been awhile since the Bulldogs played in a bowl, with their last appearance being the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl. It’s been even longer since Louisiana Tech had a bowl victory; their last bowl win was in the 1977 Independence Bowl.

The early odds on the Independence Bowl have it listed as a pick’em.