By Zane Holmes, Lindy’s summer intern/contributor
Could this be the year that a non-SEC team wins the BCS National Championship Game?
I currently have the Ohio State Buckeyes winning the national title over any SEC team (although it will probably beat Alabama to do so). Ohio State fans will see 15 starters returning this fall. That includes the entire offensive line, all of the team’s offensive skill players and dynamic quarterback Braxton Miller, a preseason Heisman candidate.
I should also mention that this is the same OSU team that would have gone to the BCS National Championship last year if it weren’t for its postseason ban.
My one concern with this Ohio State team is the lack of starting experience on defense, especially on the line. The Buckeyes return only three starters from last year’s unit, but luckily they have star linebacker Ryan Shazier returning to anchor the front seven.
Reigning national champion Alabama has its fair share of returning players as well. The Tide has seven defensive starters back, in addition to both starting wide receivers (Amari Cooper and Kevin Norwood) and quarterback AJ McCarron. However, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line could be a major area of concern after losing two first round picks (D.J. Fluker and Chance Warmack) and a fourth rounder (Barrett Jones) in this year’s NFL Draft.
Although right guard Anthony Steen and left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio return, the three newcomers, center Ryan Kelly, left guard Arie Kouandjio and right tackle Austin Shepherd, will need to mesh quickly with the veterans if Alabama wants to continue to dominate opponents up front.
Though Ohio State and Alabama both have quality teams, the reason why I see Ohio State dethroning an SEC team like the Tide is due to the strengths of schedule.
In addition to playing the typically challenging SEC slate, Alabama has to play at Texas A&M (Lindy’s preseason No. 5) and at home against LSU (Lindy’s preseason No. 8 team) as opposed to Ohio State, which has one of the easiest schedules in America. Not only do the Buckeyes get a pass on Michigan State and Nebraska, but they play Wisconsin and Penn State at home. Urban Meyer’s club does conlcude the regular season on the road at Michigan (No. 16) however so that will be a tough W to come by. But don’t be surprised if you see the scarlet and gray advance to the BCS title game — and win it — over an SEC team.