BCS Bowl Games: The Weakest Link for Every BCS Bowl Team

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To make it to a BCS bowl game, a team obviously has to have a major strength that it can rely on, but not even the best teams in the country are without a weakness.

LSU and Alabama both made it to the BCS national championship game based on their historically stellar defenses, but both teams lack a true star at the quarterback position, as LSU’s Jordan Jefferson and Alabama’s A.J. McCarron are more game-managers than they are game winners.

Quarterback problems aren’t something that most of this year’s other BCS teams have, though, as there are plenty of great quarterbacks like Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden, Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Michigan’s Denard Robinson to go around.

But just like the Tigers and the Tide, the other eight BCS bowl teams do have their weaknesses.

Oregon may have one of the most explosive rushing attacks in the country, but the Ducks lack a true go-to receiver in the passing game.

Oklahoma State has one of the most explosive offenses in the country, but the Cowboys defense has given up some huge chunks of yards this season.

Stanford has an elite quarterback in Andrew Luck, but his surrounding skill-position pieces aren’t exactly top of the line.

The West Virginia Mountaineers have had times when they’ve looked absolutely explosive this year, but there have also been times when they’ve lacked consistency and they’ve had moments that will leave you just shaking your head.

Wisconsin has one of the most powerful offenses in the country, and like always, the Badgers’ rushing attack is extremely potent, but on the other side of the ball, they’ve struggled to stop the run at times, as they’ve given up an average of 3.9 yards per carry.

Clemson has been one of the surprise teams in college football in 2011, as the Tigers have relied on the young offensive nucleus of QB Tajh Boyd, RB Andre Ellington and WR Sammy Watkins to guide them to success. But it’s that same youth and inexperience that has doomed them at different times this season.

Virginia Tech is a team that can look great at times, but the Hokies have had a habit of playing down to their competition far too often this season.

And finally, Michigan has had a great year this season, winning 10 games, but the Wolverines are still largely unproven, as they’ve only beaten one ranked team all season.