Week 8 Sun Belt football scores, picks recap, and quick game analysis.

Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Arkansas State

Final Score: Arkansas State 37, Louisiana-Lafayette 27
Pick: Arkansas State 41, Louisiana-Lafayette 34
Line: Arkansas State -8.5, o/u: 63

Arkansas State took control early and never let go. The Red Wolves to up 27-0 on two touchdown runs, a two-yard Darion Griswold catch, and a pick six from Cody Brown. But Louisiana-Lafayette kept fighting, with QB Jalen Nixon taking off for a 75-yard scoring dash and Elijah McGuire scoring twice, but ASU was never threatened after Chris Murray caught a 46-yard touchdown pass late in the second. ASU averaged 5.9 yards per carry, Louisiana-Lafayette 6.8.

Player of the Game: The entire Arkansas State offensive line. LT Jemar Clark, LG Austin Moreton, C Devin Mondie, RG Colton Jackson, RT Joseph Backus paved the way for 306 rushing yards and two scores.

Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State

Final Score: Appalachian State 31, Georgia Southern 13
Pick: Georgia Southern 31, Appalachian State 27
Line: Appalachian State -6.5, o/u: 61

Appalachian State didn’t win the Sun Belt title, but it took a huge step forward. Georgia Southern scored first on a 12-yard Kevin Ellison run, and then it was all Appalachian State with a defense that shut down the Eagle option attack, and an offense that controlled the game with two touchdown runs from Marcus Cox and Taylor Lamb touchdown passes to Simms McElfresh from nine yards out and to Barrett Burns from 33 yards away. GSU finally got back on the board late with a 19-yard L.A. Ramsby run. Georgia Southern was outgained 231 yards to 188 on the ground.

Player of the Game: Appalachian State LB Ronald Blair made eight tackles with three tackles for loss.