Nobody's perfect: BCS contenders have flaws to fix
(Sporting news) - Every team has a weak spot, an Achilles' heel, a tragic flaw. And every team save one is going to fall short of the national title. Here's some likely causes for the top contenders to stumble:
1. Florida's secondary: When last you saw this unit, it was being flayed to ribbons by Michigan in the Capital One Bowl. Gators' DBs allowed a 60 percent completion rate last season and overall, Florida yielded 25.5 points per game last year. If they can't get that back closer to the 13.5 of their national championship season, another trip to Orlando -- and not Miami -- is likely.
2. Southern California's offensive line: The Trojans' line is one of the least experienced in the country. This could be ... an issue ... for a team that hasn't settled on a featured back yet and only has four starters back on offense.
3. West Virginia's coaching: Everybody loved Bill Stewart after he led the Mountaineers to a 48-28 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. He seemed so genuinely appreciative of the opportunity. It was a feel-good story, but the reality is West Virginia hired a coach who would not have been a candidate for any other major college job in the country.
4. Oklahoma's cornerbacks and linebackers: After a front four that should be stout and violent, the Sooners are looking to break in two new linebackers and two new cornerbacks. Oklahoma's top four tacklers from last season are gone, and in a league filled with top passers, relying on inexperienced corners could be the Sooners' undoing.
5. Georgia's schedule: The Bulldogs visit South Carolina (almost always a tough nut for them to crack) and Arizona State in September. If they survive that, they'll have to take on Tennessee at home before closing the season with trips to LSU and Auburn, and, if all is still on track, the SEC title game -- most likely against a testy set of Tigers. By comparison, Hercules simply had to tidy up the stables, round up the critters and get the laundry.
6. Ohio State's recent, uh, performances in national title games: It's silly to suggest that Ohio State lacks some secret code to beat SEC teams in bowl games, even though it hasn't happened yet in nine tries. That said, with memories of the past two seasons' pratfalls fresh in their minds, BCS voters are unlikely to give the Buckeyes the benefit of the doubt if more than two candidates present a case for the title game.
