The Booth Review -- Week Four

Looking back is always a good thing (unless you just hit somebody with your car), and that's why each week, Underdog Dynasty will bring you The Booth Review — the definitive roundup of all that hot, sweaty Group of Five action you so desperately crave. Come for the #Maction, stay for Eastern Michigan. No seriously, please stay. Don't go. Where are you going?

After a week sabbatical to be an underdog at Alabama, The Booth Review is back and ready to gently rock you in our arms.

#SMACTION

It wasn't a good day for the MAC, which was outscored 218-62 by Power Five teams en route to five blowout losses. One of those losses was even to Kansas! Eastern Michigan gained exactly 1 yard against Michigan State in the first half, which is a lot to someone who has 0 yards so be respectful. Bowling Green allowed Heisman hopeful Melvin Gordon to turn 13 carries into 253 yards and five touchdowns as Wisconsin racked up 756 total yards in a 68-17 win, and Northern Illinois allowed #Bert and his Arkansas Razorbacks to shove them around so bad the Hogs almost threw for 200 yards in the air. Like the price of a Charlie Weiss dinner at Golden Corral, this is clearly a weekend the MAC would like to forget.

NEW DOMINION

Old Dominion joined Conference USA about 12 minutes ago and the Monarchs are already the favorite to challenge 4-0 Marshall for the division crown. ODU waltzed into Houston Saturday and pulled out a 45-42 victory over defending conference champion Rice behind quarterback Taylor Heinicke's 430 yards and five touchdowns. Luckily for the Owls, nobody was around to see it.

ARRRRRGHHHH YOU SERIOUS, UNC?

Let's be clear. East Carolina would dominate the ACC Coastal Division and probably give Florida State its best game with Jameis Winston under center. The Pirates are that good, and they showed it once again with a 70-44 dog-stomp of North Carolina in Greenville. Shane Carden tossed four touchdowns and true freshman Trevon Brown added two more as ECU rolled up 789 yards of total offense on Larry Fedora's cardboard box of a defense. The Fed will be adding a little vodka to the nine Red Bulls a day he drinks. But like coaching a defense, he doesn't do cardio.

REVERSED ROLES

Appalachian State got a taste of its own medicine Saturday when Southern Miss blocked what would have been a game-tying extra point with six seconds left to win the game and jump to 2-2 on the year. This was like reverse 2007 Michigan with 100,000 less people and no ESPY. The game was a slopfest for a long time but the Golden Eagles were able to pull out the victory to double their win total from the past two years and stay undefeated at home in 2014. For that, we give you Beard Favre.

NATIONAL CHAMPION OF THE WEEK: NORTHWESTERN STATE

The Demons (SCARY!) never threw a touchdown pass but used 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun Louisiana Tech at home in a 30-27 upset. The Bulldogs were coming off straight pantsings of Louisiana and North Texas in the weeks before, which makes this result even more unexplainable. Northwestern State hung around after going down 13-3 in the second quarter and engaged in a furious second-half comeback that left Joe Aillet Stadium in a silent stupor. La. Tech QB Cody Sokol threw a pick with 1:05 to go to set up the Demons' game-winning field goal. Hey La Tech, look on the bright side. At least you're not SMU!

NEW MEXICO STATE, SAME OLD PROBLEMS

The Rio Grande Rivalry gave us one of the best game of the weekend, which is what you'd expect from two teams that have both lost to UTEP. The Lobos snagged their first win of the season in style with a beautiful 5-yard touchdown grab by Reece White with 27 seconds left to steal the victory on the road. If you can tell me the difference between New Mexico and New Mexico State I'll give you $5.

GAME OF THE WEEK OF THE MONTH: UTAH STATE VS. ARKANSAS STATE

Two of the most fun Power Five teams squared off in Centennial Bank Stadium (without Chuckie Keeton, unfortunately) and it gave us one of the best games of the young season. Utah State forced four turnovers and seven punts but couldn't punch it in when it counted to lose 21-14 in overtime. The Aggies outgained Arkansas State by 100 yards but also had 100 yards in penalties — including one pass interference call to extend a Red Wolves drive to tie the game — and ASU needed just two plays in OT to score the game-winner. Arkansas State also blocked a game-winning field goal attempt with three seconds left to force the overtime period. The Cracker Barrel in Jonesboro was TURNT UP son!

PLAYER OF THE WEEK OF THE MONTH: MATT BREIDA

Georgia Southern throws the ball so little that Woody Hayes would probably be like, "Hey guys, you seriously need to air it out more." So when the Eagles handed it off to five different running backs for a total of 52 carries, it seemed like a difficult task to stand out of the jumbled rotation. But Matt Breida galloped for 187 yards and two touchdowns on his 21 carries to lead GSU past South Alabama 28-6. REMINDER: Georgia Southern beat Florida last season. That's great.

OTHER SCORES OF NOTE: Wyoming 20, FAU 19; Illinois 42, Texas State 35; Memphis 36, Middle Tennessee 17; ; Boise State 34, Louisiana 9; North Texas 77, Nicholls State 3; Marshall 48, Akron 17; Georgia 66, Troy 0; Rutgers 31, Navy 24