Only three short weeks ago, the Missouri Tigers were 1-5 and it wasn’t out of the question to think the team could finish with a record of 2-10 or 3-9.

However, since then, Mizzou has won three consecutive games to improve to 4-5 and has three very winnable games left — home vs. Tennessee, at Vanderbilt and at Arkansas. Therefore, a 2-1 finish is very much a possibility, so Mizzou fans can’t be blamed if they’re starting to get excited for the possibility of a bowl game for the first time since 2014.

It would be unrealistic to expect the Tigers to make it to a game like the TaxSlayer Bowl or the Outback Bowl, but there are still some great bowl games that Mizzou could potentially qualify for.

That said, here’s a look at the three best bowl games that are actually within Mizzou’s reach should the Tigers manage to win at least two of their remaining regular-season contests:

1. Texas Bowl

The Tigers would likely have to go 7-5 to make this game, but with the way they’ve been playing the past three weeks, that certainly is possible.

Playing in Texas against a Big 12 opponent would be a big deal for the Tigers, who have had some of their best success with recruits from Texas (like QB Chase Daniel, for example).

Since moving to the SEC, though, the Tigers don’t play nearly as many games in the Lone Star State, so their recruiting prowess in the area has taken a hit. Getting to a bowl game in Houston would help coach Barry Odom and his staff get back on the radar of some of the state’s overlooked recruits.

Getting to the Texas Bowl and beating a team like, say, Texas or Kansas State, would have wide-ranging benefits for the Mizzou program.

2. Independence Bowl

The Tigers made trips to Shreveport in 2003, 2005 and 2011, winning two of their three appearances in Louisiana.

No, this isn’t the sexiest of the bowl games, but Louisiana is another important recruiting area for the Tigers, especially if they are going to compete in the SEC. Currently, Mizzou has only one 2018 commit (3-star S Tyrus Wheat) from Louisiana, so an appearance in Shreveport would go a long way toward getting the Mizzou brand out there in the Bayou State.

A matchup against an ACC school would be interesting, too, as the Tigers haven’t faced a squad from that conference since 2011, when they beat North Carolina in (ironically) the Independence Bowl.

3. Birmingham Bowl

A bowl game in the heart of Alabama? Yes, please.

Look, games like this won’t help the Tigers steal the state’s top recruits, but Mizzou’s 2018 class is ranked No. 13 in the SEC and No. 71 nationally.

The Tigers need to recruit at a higher level in order to make bowl berths a more consistent occurrence, so a spot in Birmingham against a beatable AAC team would be great.

Of course, the Tigers should have their sights set higher, as a 7-5 record would likely net them a better bowl than this, but a 6-6 finish and a trip to Birmingham would be thrilling, especially after a 1-5 start to the season.

This Mizzou squad isn’t the same as the squad that won the SEC East in 2013 and 2014, but the possibility has presented itself for a strong finish to the regular season. A bowl berth isn’t a given yet, but it’s not unreasonable for Mizzou fans to start checking out flights to Houston, Shreveport and Birmingham.