Alabama will hope its second opportunity against a Power-4 opponent in the 2025 season goes better than its first.
The Crimson Tide got embarrassed in Tallahassee, suffering a stunning two-touchdown defeat at the hands of a hungry Florida State team in Week 1. Alabama bounced back with a 73-0 blowout win over UL Monroe last week, but whether or not that performance was fool's gold or truly indicative of Kalen DeBoer's team turning a corner is likely to be fleshed out in Tuscaloosa later today.
Wisconsin comes in 2-0, but has yet to be tested. The Badgers are hoping for a year three breakthrough under Luke Fickell, and a win over Alabama on the road would be the kind of signature win Fickell has been searching for.
Alabama comes in as the better, more talented football team. But that hasn't always mattered under DeBoer. They'd better come prepared to play, because Wisconsin certainly will. The Badgers are good enough to expose any lingering flaws. This will serve as a good test for Alabama before they can reassess over the next week's bye, giving them two weeks to then prepare for the beginning of a brutal SEC slate.
Betting odds for Alabama vs. Wisconsin
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 6am E.T. on Saturday, September 6th.
Spread: Alabama -20.5
Over/Under: 45.5
Moneyline: Alabama -1800/Wisconsin +920
Final Staff Predictions:
Josh Yourish:
Kalen DeBoer needed his team to deliver a beatdown of Louisiana Monroe last week, and the Crimson Tide came through. Now, likely facing a backup quarterback in Week 3, Alabama should keep the momentum rolling as nearly a three-touchdown favorite against Wisconsin.
Offensively, Ty Simpson torched ULM, largely because his offensive line was able to keep him clean. His pressured vs unpressured splits are alarming, long-term, but with an edge in the trenches over the Badgers, he’s likely to submit another crisp performance on Saturday. On the other side of the ball, Kane Wommack’s defense should be in good shape, and not just because the Badgers won’t have Billy Edwards Jr. Wisconsin runs more of a pro-style offense than Florida State, with Gus Malzahn or even Vanderbilt, last season. Option-heavy systems with misdirection and play-action have been an issue for Wommack, but the talent of his defense will win out this week. Give me Alabama to win big and cover the 20.5-point spread.
Pick: Alabama 38 Wisconsin 7
See Josh Yourish’s full betting record HERE
Ron Evans:
Some old-fashioned football will be Wisconsin's goal for Saturday. If the Badgers can gain an upper hand in a Tench War, the Crimson Tide's more talented roster will not produce a three-touchdown win. Instead, I predict a big game from Ryan Williams and a comfortable Crimson Tide win.
Pick: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 17
John Mitchell:
Wisconsin is going to show up looking for a fight. There's no doubt about it. It will be up to Alabama to match that energy, and prove that they are the team we saw in last week's win over UL Monroe and not the team that got embarrassed in Tallahassee.
Maybe I'm an optimist, but I think the team we saw against the Warhawks is much closer to the real Alabama team. I think the Tide will come to play. I expect another strong game from Ty Simpson, and I'll echo Ron's thoughts that Ryan Williams is going to have a big day.
The sledding might be tough early on running the football, but over time, Alabama's offense will wear out the Wisconsin defense on sheer number of plays. I don't expect Danny O'Neil and the Badgers' offense to find much success.
Pick: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14