With out first playoff projection out this week, now it is time to start looking at Saturday’s games with a little more interest. Here are 10 teams Flames Nation wants to see lose this week to help Liberty’s at-large playoff bid hopes.
1. Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona takes on Big Sky leader Eastern Washington. Eastern Washington is a lock for the playoffs, but a Northern Arizona loss should eliminate them.
2. Towson
The CAA has three sure-fire playoff teams this season, and Towson isn’t one of them. However, if the Colonial has any chance of getting a fourth team in this year, the Tigers probably have to win out. Should Towson lose on the road to Maine, they will still be alive, but their hopes will be fading.
3. Indiana State
The Sycamores travel to Northern Iowa Saturday in a de facto elimination game. Both teams are in the hunt for an at-large, so an Indiana State win does at least eliminate UNI. However, it also bolsters ISU’s playoff resume.
4. Western Illinois
Despite two uncharacteristic losses, North Dakota State is in. Western Illinois has the unenviable position of having to pull off a win in the Fargo Dome to keep their at-large bid hopes alive. Hopefully this is the end for the Leathernecks.
5. Montana State
The Bobcats face off against Southern Utah Saturday, a team that should have a firm grasp on an at-large bid. We have Montana State on the bubble this week, but a loss would eliminate them from consideration.
6. Eastern Illinois
Our “last team in” from this week’s playoff projections, the Panthers take a five game winning streak into this week’s match up with Jacksonville State. JSU is probably the best team in the country, so a loss won’t end Eastern’s season. However, it would almost definitely put them on the outside looking in, for now.
7. UT Martin
At 5-3, Tennessee-Martin is still a threat to make the field of 24 in the OVC. However, this week’s trip to Eastern Kentucky is a must win for them. A loss eliminates UTM from making it to the seven D1 win threshold.
8. Colgate
Colgate catapulted themselves into the Patriot League’s automatic bid with their upset of Fordham. Liberty fans desperately need Colgate to drop two of their last three to keep the Patriot from being a two bid league. Don’t look for much help from 1-8 Lafayette on Saturday.
9. Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas may be on our bubble at the moment, but should they win out, they have very good odds of making the field of 24. Should they slip up this week against SF Austin, the Bears will be in trouble.
10. Charleston Southern
Okay, this one really doesn’t have an effect on Liberty’s at-large chances. However, Liberty’s automatic bid hopes come down to the Bucs road trip to Kennesaw State. If the Bucs manage to fall to the Owls, the Flames are in should they win out. No small task, but Liberty fans have to be big KSU fans on Saturday.
