Sun Belt football scores, picks recap and quick analysis for each game in Week 5.

---

GAMES IN ORDER FROM BEST TO WORST

Liberty at Georgia State

Final Score: Liberty 41, at Georgia State 33
Pick: Georgia State 27, Liberty 24
Line: No Line

Desmond Rice ran for three touchdowns for Liberty, but Georgia State kept up with Nick Arbuckle throwing three touchdown passes and running for another, But the Flames were able to pull away in the fourth quarter on a five-yard Todd Macon touchdown run and stayed up on two John Lunsford field goals. The Panthers had one last shot, but the final drive was stopped on a sack and an interception.

Player of the Game: Liberty RB Desmond Rice ran 22 times for 87 yards and three scores.

South Alabama vs. Troy

Final Score: South Alabama 24, at Troy 18
Pick: South Alabama 27, Troy 24
Line: Troy -6.5, o/u: 61

South Alabama took control in a see-saw game, getting up 21-8 on two Gerald Everett touchdown catches and a one-yard Xavier Johnson run, but Troy made it close with a 20-yard Andre Flakes touchdown run in the second. It was all field goals in the second half with a 35-yard Aleem Sunanon kick keeping USA up for good. Troy had one last chance, but the final drive was stuffed and stalled.

Player of the Game: South Alabama WR Gerald Everett caught five passes for 45 yards and two scores.

New Mexico State vs. New Mexico

Final Score: at New Mexico 38, New Mexico State 29
Pick: New Mexico 38, New Mexico State 27
Line: New Mexico -13, o/u: 67.5

New Mexico State got a huge day from Larry Rose III who ran for three touchdowns in the first half from 63 yards, 67 and 51 yards away, but the New Mexico running game won out, cranking out over 400 yards with Lamar Jordan taking off for a 70-yard rushing score in the first, and Jhurell Pressley and Teriyon Gipson taking off for long scoring dashes in the second half. The Aggies turned it over three times, and the Lobos took advantage with easy scores – they scored 22 unanswered points in the second half.

Player of the Game: In a losing caught, NMSU RB Larry Rose III ran 21 times for 260 yards and three scores.

Georgia Southern vs. ULM

Final Score: Georgia Southern 51, at ULM 31
Pick: Georgia Southern 37, ULM 24
Line: Georgia Southern -6, o/u: 47.5

Georgia Southern ran for 455 yards with Matt Breida, LA Ramsby and Wesley Fields each running for two scores, while the defense came up with three takeaways, in the huge road win in the Sun Belt race. The Eagles got up 31-3 in the first half, but ASU scored 21 straight points with Garrett Smith throwing two touchdown passes and Junior Williams returned a pick for a score to pull within seven. The Eagles took control in the fourth, starting with a 41-yard Ramsby scoring run. GSU held on to the ball for almost 38 minutes.

Player of the Game: Georgia Southern RB Matt Breida ran 19 times for 149 yards and two scores.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Louisiana Tech

Final Score: at Louisiana Tech 43, Louisiana-Lafayette 14
Pick:
Line:

The Ragin’ Cajuns scored first on a 49-yard Elijah McGuire touchdown catch, but Louisiana Tech took over with 36 straight points including 22 in the second quarter helped by a blocked punt for a safety and a crushing 50-yard pick six from Bryson Abraham to close out the first half. Jeff Driskel ran for a score and threw for another, and Jonathan Barnes hit two field goals in the rout.

Player of the Game: Marcus Gaines caught eight passes for 165 yards and a score.

Idaho vs. Arkansas State

Final Score: at Arkansas State 49, Idaho 35
Pick: Arkansas State 58, Idaho 17
Line: Arkansas State -21.5, o/u: 64.5

Three interceptions from the defense, and a huge running day from the O helped Arkansas State win in a blowout. Michael Gordon ran for three touchdowns, with two in the second quarter, on the way to a 35-14 lead, but Idaho made it fun with Jake Luton running for three second half touchdowns to keep it competitive. The Vandals couldn’t get close late after the Red Wolves took a 49-21 lead on a 20-yard Tres Houston touchdown catch.

Player of the Game: Arkansas State RB Michael Gordon ran 26 times for 221 yards and three scores.

Wyoming vs. Appalachian State

Final Score: at Appalachian State 31, Wyoming 13
Pick: Appalachian State 42, Wyoming 19
Line: Appalachian State -25.5

Marcus Cox tore off a 59-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, and Latrell Gibbs snuffed out a Wyoming drive with a 91-yard pick six for a 14-0 Appalachian State lead just over four minutes into the game. Cowboy Brian Hill ran for 208 yards and came up with a score, but ASU took advantage of several UW mistakes with Taylor Lamb running for a nine-yard score and finding Simms McElfresh for an 18-yard touchdown to turn it into a blowout UW didn’t get back on the board until 44 second remained on an eight-yard Josh Tapscott catch.

Player of the Game: Appalachian State RB Marcus Cox ran 15 times for 178 yards and a score.