In the world of professional golf, being known as the “best current player who hasn’t won a major” is at once a compliment, an insult and a curse. You’ve won a lot of money, more than a few “lesser” tournaments, and you’re seemingly always in the discussion come Sunday of the four biggest weekends of the year. And the longer you’re known as the BCPWHWAM, the more the pressure builds and the heavier the expectations become. Some guys (Chris DiMarco) sink. Others (Phil Mickelson) meet (and then exceed) those expectations.

On Monday, Oregon and Wisconsin will meet at the Rose Bowl to decide the college football equivalent of the BCPWHWAM: the best current coach who hasn’t won a BCS game. One of these teams (and its coach) will take a losing streak into the 2012 season: either Oregon and Chip Kelly will be 0-for-3 in BCS games or Bret Bielema and Wisconsin will be 0-for-2 in the Rose Bowl. For the winner: validation (if you believe in things like that). For the loser: another season of questions and another year of weighty expectations.

On the surface, this looks like a classic speed vs. power game. But to classify Oregon as simply “speedy” is to ignore the fact the LaMichael James runs as hard as anyone between the tackles and that their defense has a number of big hitters. And to classify Wisconsin as simply “powerful” ignores the fact that their quarterback, Russell Wilson, is accurate in and out of the pocket, and that their all-world running back Montee Ball is fast enough to beat opposing defenses to the edge, while also busting them up the middle.

Make no mistake, the Badgers probably don’t want to get into an Alamo Bowl-style shootout with the Ducks, but they certainly have the firepower to keep pace. And the Ducks probably don’t want to get into a grind-it-out, first-one-to-20-wins type game with the Badgers, but they’re certainly tough enough to win that way. This one will probably come down to which defense plays best against an offensive style they haven’t faced all season.

The Ducks have seen good rushing teams and some great quarterbacks. But they haven’t yet seen a team that has both, like Wisconsin. And Wisconsin certainly hasn’t faced an offense as fast-paced and explosive as Oregon’s. The Big 10 has some great players, but nobody in that league can put guys like LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas on the field. At the same time.

Look, if Michigan State can put up 37 and 39 against the Badgers, I think the Ducks can get to 40. And if they do, that puts a lot of pressure on the Wisconsin offense. Further, the Oregon defense has been really good at keeping everything in front of them. Teams have scored points against the Ducks, but rarely does Oregon give up explosion plays. Sure, Wisconsin would love to keep the ball and kill the clock with long drives, but if Oregon’s offense is rolling, the other team’s offense can get sucked into thinking they have to score fast, too. And that’s when the Ducks are at their best, when they get you to play their game.

Of course, if Oregon struggles in the red zone (see: Auburn, Ohio State, USC) or loses the turnover battle (see: LSU) it will be a long day for the guys in green. But I have a sneaking suspicion that Oregon is going to play well from start to finish. There’s no sense that they’re “just happy to be here.” I think LaMichael James is locked in and that he will have his best bowl game performance as a Duck. On defense, Wisconsin’s wide receivers are solid, but not spectacular, so I like Oregon’s young corners to hold their own in what I suspect will be many man coverage looks.

And I think Wisconsin will play well, too. Montee Ball will go for 100+ and Russell Wilson probably won’t throw an interception—heck, he only has three all season. This one will go down to the wire, but Oregon will win it because they have something Wisconsin doesn’t.

De’Anthony Thomas.

He has steadily improved all season and the extra month of practice will only help his grasp of the offense. Oregon should be able to find ways to get him into favorable match-ups—against a linebacker or a safety—and then get him the ball in space, either on option plays or short passes. Plus, he’s been tremendous on kick returns, and even if Wisconsin kicks away from him, Josh Huff is no slouch.

Says here the freshman dynamo makes a game-changing play that propels the Ducks to their second Rose Bowl title, 42-38.

Happy New Year, everybody.