Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Wisconsin Badgers Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 14th 2024

Preview and Prediction

The level of difficulty increases exponentially for undefeated Wisconsin as fourth-ranked Alabama makes their way to Camp Randall Stadium for a highly anticipated nonconference matchup on Saturday in Madison, Wis.

Wisconsin (2-0) has not been particularly impressive in their first two victories. In their season opener, the Badgers had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat Western Michigan 28-14. However, Western Michigan was then blown out 56-0 by No. 3 Ohio State in their next game.

Last Saturday, Wisconsin narrowly escaped with a 27-13 win over FCS opponent South Dakota after allowing them to close the gap to 17-13 in the third quarter.

"Although the first two games were the start of the season, we knew that this would be the opportunity to truly see where we stand and who we are as a team," stated Badgers coach Luke Fickell on Monday.

Alabama (2-0) began the Kalen DeBoer era with a dominant 63-0 win over Western Kentucky before pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 42-16 victory over South Florida.

The Crimson Tide, one of six Southeastern Conference teams ranked in the top seven this week, are averaging 496.5 yards per game while only allowing 227.0. Alabama has scored seven touchdowns in nine red-zone opportunities, while their opponents have only managed one touchdown in six trips to the red zone.

Running back Jamarion Miller has been a standout for the Crimson Tide, averaging 9.7 yards per carry with 194 yards on 20 attempts and two touchdowns. Justice Haynes has also been impressive, rushing for 143 yards and two scores with an average of 8.9 yards per carry.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe has been efficient for Alabama, completing 24 of 36 passes for 399 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also added 81 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

This will be the first time in 96 years that Alabama will travel to Madison, and DeBoer expressed excitement about playing in front of a hostile crowd.

"We are looking forward to taking on that hostile environment and knowing that it will be us against everyone there," said the first-year Alabama coach on Monday. "I believe our team is ready for the challenge and eager to improve from last week."

Both teams will be without a linebacker for the first half of the game on Saturday. Justin Jefferson for Alabama and Jake Chaney for Wisconsin were both ejected for targeting in their previous games.

Last Saturday, redshirt senior Tyler Van Dyke, a transfer from Miami, completed 17 of 27 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown for Wisconsin. Through two games, Van Dyke has completed 38 of 63 passes (60.3 percent) for 406 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

With Tawee Walker out due to injury, reserve running back Cade Yacamelli stepped up for the Badgers with a team-high 73 yards on eight carries against South Dakota. Sixth-year senior Chez Mellusi leads Wisconsin with 134 yards at an average of 3.8 yards per carry and three touchdowns.

Wisconsin has been successful in the red zone, scoring on 8 of 10 possessions, including five touchdowns. However, their opponents have also been efficient, going 4-for-4 in the red zone with two touchdowns.

The last time Alabama and Wisconsin faced off was in 2015, when the Crimson Tide came out on top with a 35-17 victory in Arlington, Texas. Alabama's only trip to Madison was in 1928, where they suffered a 15-0 loss to the Badgers.

Fickell was the head coach at Cincinnati when his fourth-ranked Bearcats lost to the top-ranked Crimson Tide 27-6 in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl in 2021.

PREDICTION

Alabama Crimson Tide

Wisconsin Badgers

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Wisconsin Badgers Recap SEP 14TH 2024

Jalen Milroe passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more Saturday to pace fourth-ranked Alabama to a 42-10 nonconference rout of Wisconsin, which lost starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke on its opening possession.

Van Dyke, a redshirt senior transfer from Miami, was carted off the field with an apparent right knee injury on a third-down scramble. Van Dyke was replaced by redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke, who started three games last season in place of injured Tanner Mordecai.

Milroe completed 12 of 17 passes for 196 yards with touchdowns of 31, 26, and 37 yards. He also ran for a team-high 75 yards on 14 carries.

Alabama (3-0) scored on each side of halftime for a 28-3 lead. The Crimson Tide outgained Wisconsin 407-290 and averaged 7.3 yards per play to 4.0 for the Badgers (2-1).

Locke completed 13 of 26 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Chez Mellusi ran for 66 yards on 11 carries.

Alabama went in front 7-3 with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter when Milroe hit dynamic freshman Ryan Williams with a 31-yard scoring strike.

The Crimson Tide capitalized on a turnover to make it 14-3. Mellusi ran for 21 yards but fumbled on the tackle, which was recovered by Alabama at the Wisconsin 28. Seven plays later, Milroe skirted right end from 3 yards out.

Nathanial Vakos was wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt with 36 seconds left in the half, but Milroe needed just two plays to go 73 yards the other way. He hit Williams deep right for 47 yards, followed by a 26-yard scoring pass to Germie Bernard for a 21-3 halftime lead.

The Crimson Tide marched 75 yards in five plays on the opening series of the third quarter, capped by Jamarion Miller's 34-yard touchdown run to make it 28-3.

The Badgers answered with a 17-play, 75-yard drive capped by Locke's 3-yard touchdown pass to Will Pauling.

Alabama recovered a fumble by Cade Yacamelli at the Wisconsin 18. Milroe scored on a 10-yard run for a 35-10 lead late in the third quarter and hit a wide-open Josh Cuevas with a 37-yard touchdown with 10:05 left.

Wisconsin opened with a 10-play, 40-yard drive before settling for Vakos' 53-yard goal. Graham Nicholson was wide right from 46 yards on Alabama's ensuing possession.