In Libertys current predicament as an FBS Independent and only one secondary bowl agreement with the Cure Bowl, not only do the Flames need to get to the necessary six FBS wins to become bowl eligible, Liberty also needs help.

Here are the top games to keep an eye on this weekend, in addition to Liberty against New Mexico State, to help the Flames bowl chances.

Both the AAC and the Sun Belt have enough bowl eligible teams to fill their respective bowl slots, including the Cure Bowl. There still is a chance one spot will open up if the champion from either the AAC or the Sun Belt is the top ranked champion from the Group of Five conferences and gets a spot in the New Years Six. The AAC champ is currently holding this title with Memphis and Cincinnati.

Can both teams win? We need the AAC champion to stay ranked ahead of Boise State, currently both the Bearcats and Tigers fit that bill, but one must lose this week. Cincy has already clinched a spot in next weeks AAC Championship game while Memphis is tied with Navy. A Memphis win is probably best, but we probably need whoever wins this game to also win the AAC Championship game to stay ahead of Boise State.

A Boise State loss would greatly help the Americans chances at getting their champion into a New Years Six bowl game.

A Troy loss would eliminate them and the win by Appalachian State would keep them in the hunt for a New Years Six slot which would also help Libertys chances.

This year there are 39 bowl games resulting in 78 bowl spots. If Liberty does not get into the Cure Bowl, but there is an empty spot elsewhere from not having enough bowl eligible teams, the Flames will get the nod.

There are currently 72 bowl eligible teams and 13 teams that are 1 win away from becoming bowl eligible, not counting Liberty. Here are those 13 teams and their games this week:

Its very unlikely, but a loss by the Bearcats would eliminate them.

This is a huge game for Libertys chances. The Flames need to pull for Coach Hugh Freezes former team, Ole Miss, to eliminate Mississippi State.

Eastern Michigan is already bowl eligible. Kent State needs one more win. We need Eastern Michigan to win to eliminate the Golden Flashes.

We need to pull for Iowa to knock off the Cornhuskers and eliminate them.

Missouri is an interesting case. They have been given a bowl ban but can qualify for the postseason by defeating Arkansas while the school fights the bowl ban with an ongoing appeal. Hopefully, they lose to the Razorbacks and we dont have to worry about it.

Go Mountaineers!

We need Boston College to lose which will eliminate them.

We need Maryland to pull off the big upset to eliminate the Spartans.

We need the Ducks to eliminate their in-state rival.

We need the Wolfpack to knock off the Tar Heels and eliminate them from bowl contention.

Utah should win and that would eliminate Colorado.

Louisiana has had a terrific season, and we need them to pull off a win against their rival to eliminate UL Monroe.

The AAC making a New Years Six Bowl and the Flames sliding into the AACs Cure Bowl slot is most likely, but theres still a chance Liberty could slide into another spot. 13 teams are fighting for the final six spots. It should make for a fun week. We will update this throughout the week as the games are played.

Originally posted here:

Games to Watch This Weekend for Liberty's Bowl Hopes (11/26 edition) - A Sea of Red