Wisconsin vs. Alabama pick: Odds, best bet, prediction for Saturdays clash in Tuscaloosa

Nobody knows what to expect from No.19 Alabama (1-1) for the rest of the season.The market was lukewarm on the Crimson Tide, relative to what we’re used to, coming into the season, but there were a lot of sharp bettors and power ratings, including SP+, that were bullish on ‘Bama going into Year 2 of Kalen DeBoer’s reign.A lopsided, uninspired defeat to Florida State in Week 1 doused all that in cold water.Alabama then answered the bell with a 73-0 shellacking of UL-Monroe in Week 2, but that’s not going to quiet any of the skeptics around DeBoer.Anything short of a resounding win over Wisconsin, who will be without starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.

again Saturday, will be deemed unacceptable by the power brokers in Tuscaloosa.The Crimson Tide are a three-score favorite over the Badgers.Perhaps nobody this side of Florida’s Billy Napier is under more scrutiny than DeBoer right now, but Luke Fickell will also feel the heat if Wisconsin isn’t better in 2025.Fickell came to Madison with hopes of adding some buzz to the Wisconsin offense, but he seemingly strayed too far from the path, and the results were a 13-13 record in his first two years leading the Badgers.Fickell has Wisconsin sitting at 2-0 this season, but wins over Miami (Ohio) and Middle Tennessee State aren’t going to move the needle.A successful trip to Alabama, though? That could buy you some serious favor with the boosters.It will be easier said than done, however, as Fickell and the Badgers will turn to Danny O’Neil, a sophomore who spent last year at San Diego State.O’Neil was terrific against Middle Tennessee State, but repeating that performance against Alabama is a completely different equation.That said, the Wisconsin defense, which features a terrific secondary, should be able to contain Alabama’s offense enough to make O’Neil’s task a little bit easier.That defense is what will get us to the window with a Badgers’ ticket Saturday.The Play: Wisconsin +20.5 (FanDuel)M...