In Liberty’s 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 at Virginia, to help the Flames’ bowl chances.

CURE BOWL

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 Year’s Six. The AAC champ is currently holding this title with Memphis ranked #18.

#18 Memphis (9-1) at South Florida (4-6)

A win would help Memphis continue to stay in the hunt for a New Year’s Six bowl slot, which helps Liberty, and it would eliminated USF from bowl contention. The Tigers are currently in a 3-way tie with SMU and Navy atop the AAC’s West Division. Liberty fans need to pull for a Memphis-Cincinnati clash in the AAC Championship game as the winner of that game would more than likely reach the New Year’s Six and could potentially open a spot in the Cure Bowl for the Flames.

Temple (7-3) at #19 Cincinnati (9-1)

A Cincinnati win would keep them in the hunt, with Memphis, for a New Year’s Six bowl slot. The Bearcats would clinch the AAC East Division title and a spot in the AAC Championship Game with a win.

#25 SMU (9-1) at #23 Navy (7-2)

These teams are currently tied with Memphis for the lead in the AAC’s East Division, but they are both ranked behind Boise State. A loss is welcomed by either.

#20 Boise State (9-1) at Utah State (6-4)

A Boise State loss would greatly help the American’s chances at getting their champion into a New Year’s Six bowl game.

There’s also a chance a 6th Sun Belt team could become bowl eligible, which we don’t want since they could take Liberty’s spot elsewhere.

Coastal Carolina (4-6) at UL Monroe (4-6)

The loser is eliminated and the winner will hopefully lose next week to also be eliminated.

Troy (4-6) at Louisiana (9-2)

A Troy loss would eliminate them.

OTHER BOWLS

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 63 bowl eligible teams. Here are a few games to keep an eye on to make sure that number doesn’t creep up to 78 or beyond over the next two weeks.

#21 Oklahoma State (7-3) at West Virginia (4-6)

A West Virginia loss would eliminate them.

#7 Utah (9-1) at Arizona (4-6)

A loss by Arizona would eliminate them and also free them up to defeat Arizona State next week to eliminate the Sun Devils provided that ASU loses to Oregon this week.

#6 Oregon (9-1) at Arizona State (5-5)

As mentioned above, a loss by Arizona State this week and a loss to their in-state rival Arizona next week, would eliminate the Sun Devils.

Kansas State (6-4) at Texas Tech (4-6)

A Texas Tech loss would eliminate them.

UCLA (4-6) at #23 USC (7-4)

A UCLA loss would eliminate them.

Duke (4-6) at Wake Forest (7-3)

We need a Duke loss to eliminate the Blue Devils.

Marshall (7-3) at Charlotte (5-5)

A Charlotte loss would bring the 49ers within one loss of elimination.

Syracuse (4-6) at Louisville (6-4)

Despite losing to the Orange to open the season, the Flames need Syracuse to lose one of its final two games to keep them from becoming bowl eligible.

Nebraska (4-6) at Maryland (3-7)

The Terrapins are already eliminated, but we could use them to knock off the Cornhuskers and eliminate them.

That’s 15 games that will have an impact on where the Flames could end up in a bowl game, provided Liberty wins one more game. There are several other games this weekend that could have a bearing, but this list is a very good sample.