ORANGE BOWL Game could be decided by weakest links

Oklahoma's secondary and USC's offensive line are the only noticeable weaknesses.
MIAMI (AP) -- Oklahoma's secondary was so shaky that coaches turned to a freshman they planned to redshirt. Even now, Southern California's offensive line is a "work in progress," coordinator Norm Chow says.
Whether the No. 1 Trojans or the No. 2 Sooners win the Orange Bowl and the Bowl Championship Series national title could come down to which team's weakest link holds up best Tuesday.
Entering the season, there were questions about how Oklahoma's defense would fare after the departure of All-American cornerback Derrick Strait. Then the Sooners lost cornerback Antonio Perkins to a knee injury, depriving the secondary of its leader and best cover man.
With Perkins sidelined, opponents found success going deep on the Sooners. In consecutive games against Oklahoma State and Texas A & amp;M, OU allowed several long pass plays that nearly cost them a perfect season.
Freshman was the answer
Trailing 28-21 at halftime against Texas A & amp;M, and having little success shutting down Aggies quarterback Reggie McNeal, the Sooners' defensive coaches decided it was time to try something different.
With upperclassmen Jowahn Poteat, Eric Bassey and Chijioke Oneyenegecha struggling, freshman cornerback Marcus Walker was put in the game.
"We just gave up some crazy plays and ... I turned to him and said, 'You're in,' " Sooners co-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini said. "We had confidence in him."
The Sooners tightened up against the Aggies in the second half, allowing just one more TD on a fake field goal.
Perkins returned to the lineup the next week against Nebraska, and Walker played at the other corner.
"The secondary was a weak link then," said Perkins, known more as a dangerous punt returner than a shutdown corner. "Most of the plays were missed assignments. We were out of line. We weren't in the right position to make plays. Now I came back and I'm more verbal. We talk a lot and communicate with each other to be in the right position to make a play."
In the final three games of the season, Oklahoma allowed a total of 253 yards through the air. But that was against Nebraska, Baylor and Colorado -- none of which boasts a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
Stopping Matt Leinart and USC's passing game, which is adept at creating mismatches and confusion, won't be quite so easy.
"The decision-making of Matt Leinart, it's second-to-none; his accuracy, his poise, the way he distributes the football, just his overall decision-making is exceptional," OU co-defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.