BELK BOWL (Charlotte) -- Two strong variables are in play here. For one, the Aggies are in the middle of a coaching transition. Second, they're traveling to Wake Forest's home state. Yet, the identity of Wake Forest flipped this season from a defensive-minded team to an attacking squad. With the layoff of bowl season, don’t be surprised for rust to show for Wake Forest. Grab the Aggies.

BELK BOWL (Charlotte, N.C.) -- Texas A&M has an interim staff during the transition from Kevin Sumlin to Jimbo Fisher. Aggies DT Zaycoven Henderson is suspended, which will impair the defense’s main weapon -- the QB sack. Plus, Wake’s offensive line protects its passer well, so John Wolford will be afforded time to throw. Wolford is a dual-threat QB, a profile that has troubled A&M. The capper to this pick is bowl history. The Demon Deacons have covered in four straight, whereas A&M has done so in three of the past 11.

BELK BOWL (Charlotte) -- The wrong team is favored in the Belk Bowl, because despite a coaching disruption as they make the transition to Jimbo Fisher from Kevin Sumlin, the Texas A&M Aggies will simply out-athlete Wake Forest. Take nothing away from the Demon Deacons, but a healthy Nick Starkel combined with a stage to audition for Fisher as he looks on from afar and some elements of a newer offense mixed into the old scheme will prove to be the right combination for a mild upset in Charlotte.

The wrong team is favored here. Wake Forest is a nice story, but the SEC squad owns the talent edge. The Demon Deacons simply can't match up against players like Christian Kirk, who has 730 receiving yards, seven receiving TDs, a kickoff return TD and a punt return for a score. In my simulations, the Aggies are winning outright more than half the time. Back A&M despite the coaching transition in College Station.