Texas A&M had a strong outing in Week 1 with a 50-0 shutout against Missouri State, the kind of performance that sent a message to the rest of the SEC, especially with how the Aggies’ defense played in that game.

How is this Texas A&M team going to look against Arizona State? This week, it starts and stops on offense. The Aggies have the personnel to physically overwhelm the Sun Devils, and if the offensive line cleans up the miscues from the first half of the opener, this could be a game where Texas A&M controls the clock and wears Arizona State down.

The offensive line concerns are fixable

Now, I know a lot of people want to focus on the offensive line concerns, and understandably so. The first half was not good. But I don’t think it’s a talent problem or a physicality problem from this group.

A couple of players are making miscues, which is to be expected early in the season. I’m hoping for a faster start from the overall offense, especially in a game like this. The last thing you want to do is give a guy like Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham extra opportunities with the football and let him hang around in a game he shouldn’t be hanging around in.

What happens if Marcel Reed hits a rough patch?

The other thing I want to see is what the game plan looks like if we see a downswing from quarterback Marcel Reed. We all understand it could be volatile.

So what does the plan look like to get him back comfortable? Can the coaching staff move the pocket for him, get him some easy reads and easy completions to get him back up to speed? For a first-time play caller, that’s a massive test. And the run game can help answer those questions and set up Reed for some success in this one.

The Aggies’ rushing attack should feast against the Sun Devils

And here’s where I think A&M really separates itself. The personnel that Texas A&M has offensively can break Arizona State’s defense. This is not an overly aggressive defense from the Sun Devils. They’re not going to blitz a ton. They may have some unique packages to create pressure, but if the Aggies are able to dominate them physically and run the football, I don’t think Arizona State has a chance to stop them.

One of my sneaky predictions for this game: I think something like 200 rushing yards, maybe even 250, should be a valid prediction for Texas A&M. I think they’re going to keep the chains moving and put together long drives while Arizona State’s offense stays on the sideline. That’s the recipe. Control the clock, wear them down, and don’t let Dillingham’s offense find a rhythm on the field.

If Texas A&M comes out with a fast start, runs the ball the way I think they can, and keeps Reed in a comfortable rhythm, this game shouldn’t be close. I’m stamping 200-plus rushing yards and an Aggies win that feels more dominant than the final score suggests.