One of the major players in Alabama baseball’s gambling scandal that resulted in the firing and NCAA ban of coach Brad Bohannon has been sentenced in the U.S. district court for the northern district of Alabama. Bert Neff, an Indiana businessman, was sentenced to eight months in prison on Monday.

Neff will also serve three years of supervised release after he gets out of prison. He could have received up to a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty to obstructing a federal grand jury investigation.

“Faced with a federal grand jury investigation, he worked to game the system,” assistant U.S. attorney Edward Canter wrote in a sentencing memorandum obtained by AL.com. “The defendant destroyed evidence, tampered with witnesses, and provided false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He did not do this once. He did it on dozens of occasions, and he did so for the greater part of a year.”

Neff must report to a designated facility to begin serving his sentence by Oct. 29, according to court records. The scandal at Alabama began with Neff attempting to place a bet on Alabama baseball after receiving a tip from Bohannon, who was about to announce his starting pitcher was out of an SEC matchup with LSU.

According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Neff destroyed his cell phone and encouraged others to do so as well. He also allegedly tried to convince witnesses not to participate in a federal investigation and tried to coach witnesses before they testified in front of a grand jury.

“(Neff) demonstrated an uncommon persistence in his effort to obstruct justice,” Canter wrote. “Not only did he destroy his phone at the outset of the investigation. He doubled down on obstruction at every opportunity, compounding the seriousness of the offense.”

The game in question was played on April 23, 2023. Bohannon was fired in May.

The former Alabama coach was given a 15-year show cause order by the NCAA for his alleged actions. Any school that hires him must suspend him for the first five regular seasons of his tenure.

Alabama received three years of NCAA probation and a $5,000 fine for the incident. UA must also retain a firm that will provide gambling education to players, coaches and administrators.

The third installment of wild blind dart-throwing predictions of Alabama opponents takes us deep into the Rust Belt wilderness.

GAME 3, September 14: at WISCONSIN BADGERS

Coach: Luke Fickell (7–6, 5–4 B1G in one full season as head coach, plus 1-0 as interim at Wisky in 2022; 71–31 overall with one plagued year at anOhio State and six acceptional seasons at Cincy; 3-4 in bowls)

2023 record: 7-6 (4–4 AAC, lost Tampa Bowl to LSU 35-31)

Looking back: In their first five games, UW beat up on Buffalo, Georgia Southern, Purdue, and Rutgers, but somehow managed to drop a game at Washington State in between. Then, the conference schedule kicked in and true colors were exposed. The Badgers would lose four of their next five, averaging 10 points scored in those four defeats. Wisky rebounded for wins over Nebraska and Minnie, but couldn’t outscore defense-optional LSU in the bowl game to finish with the dreaded 7-6 record. It’s a winning record, but the ugliest kind.

Key losses: RB Braelon Allen (Round 4, Jets), C Tanor Bortolini (Round 4, Colts), QB Tanner Mordecai (grad), LB Maema Njongmeta (grad), DT Gio Paez (xfer to LSU), 3rd leading tackler ILB Jordan Turner (to Sparty), 3rd leading receiver and former team captain Chimere Dike (to Florida), co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Colin Hitschler (now at Alabama), wide receiver coach Mike Brown (to Notre Dame)

Top returnees: Leading tackler SS Hunter Wohler, CB Ricardo Hallman, #1 WR Will Pauling, #2 WR Bryson Green, LB Jake Chaney, OL Riley Mahlman (6’8”/308).

Returning Starters: 5 on defense, 5 on offense, punter and kicker.

Top newcomers: QB Tyler Van Dyke (from Miami-FL), FCS All-American OLB John Pius (William & Mary), RB Tawee Walker (Oklahoma, 513 YDS, 7 TD), Lincoln Riley’s former DC Alex Grinch 2019-2023 is the new Wisconsin DC (because those LR defenses have been so good. Amirite?)

Strengths: Van Dyke’s potential… Stout defense (20.2 ppg allowed in 2023 – 21st best)… Secondary…

Weaknesses: Wisky had a heck of a time scoring points in league play in 2023. They averaged a hair under 20 ppg and tallied 14 or less on four occasions (Iowa, Ohio State, Northwestern, at Indiana)… Receivers need to step up… Defensive line is suspect… Special teams were mediocre last year and the same guys are back…

Outlook: At Miami-FL in 2021, QB Tyler Van Dyke took over for injured starter D’Eriq King and never looked back. He had a fine freshman season (2,931, 25 TD, 6 INT), but the next two campaigns were a little rocky (1,844-10-5 / 2,703-19-12) which included some benchings. Will a change in scenery do him good?

The UW defense probably does not have the speed, depth, or bulk to keep up with the Tide.

Fickell was supposed to be the Wisconsin Messiah, but he has not gotten off to a start that Badgers fans were hoping for. He lost two key staffers in the off-season and the schedule is a daunting one, exchanging two B1G patsies for a trip to Southern Cal and home game vs Oregon.

Bama is currently favored by nine points with the game taking place in Madison with an 11am/noon kickoff. Look for a score around Tide 38 UW 20.

Wisconsin Win Total Odds*

Over 7 -105 (bet $105 to profit $100)
Under 7 -115 (bet $115 to profit $100)

*Source: DraftKings

2024 WISCONSIN BADGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:

Fri, Aug 30 vs Western Michigan – W
Sat, Sep 7 vs South Dakota – W
Sat, Sep 14 vs Alabama – L
Sat, Sep 28 @ Southern Cal – L
Sat, Oct 5 vs Purdue – W
Sat, Oct 12 @ Rutgers – W
Sat, Oct 19 @ Northwestern – W
Sat, Oct 26 vs Penn State – L
Sat, Nov 2 @ Iowa – L
Sat, Nov 16 vs Oregon – L
Sat, Nov 23 @ Nebraska – L
Fri, Nov 29 vs Minnesota – W

2024 ALABAMA SCHEDULE PREVIEWS:

Sat, Aug 31 vs Western Kentucky
Sat, Sep 7 vs South Florida
Sat, Sep 14 @ Wisconsin
Sat, Sep 28 vs Georgia
Sat, Oct 5 @ Vanderbilt
Sat, Oct 12 vs South Carolina
Sat, Oct 19 @ Tennessee
Sat, Oct 26 vs Missouri
Sat, Nov 9 @ LSU
Sat, Nov 16 vs Mercer
Sat, Nov 23 @ Oklahoma
Sat, Nov 30 vs Auburn

Welcome to depth chart season. Specifically, Alabama football depth chart season in these parts.

Grab your crystal balls, put on your best prognosticator hats and let’s take a crack at trying to figure out who will start for the Crimson Tide and Kalen DeBoer in 2024.

It’s very much so subject to change as a result of fall camp. Sure, some spots are all but figured out with about a month until the season starts, but there are still some battles. Competition is alive and well in some spots.

Heading into fall camp set to start this week, here’s our prediction for the Alabama football depth chart for the 2024 season.

Quarterback

Starter: Jalen Milroe

Reserves: Ty Simpson, Dylan Lonergan, Austin Mack

Analysis: Outside of specialists, this is about as easy to predict as any position on the roster. Milroe is the guy and has a chance to thrive under DeBoer, new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and offensive analyst Mitch Dahlen, a former collegiate quarterback who also worked with Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons.

Running back

Starters: Jam Miller, Justice Haynes

Reserves: Richard Young, Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley

Analysis: Get ready for the Jam and Justice show this season. Young is going to have a role in the offense too, though. Consider it a three-headed monster with Miller and Haynes leading the way.

Receiver

Starters: Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law, Ryan Williams

Reserves: Kobe Prentice, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Caleb Odom, Cole Adams, Jaren Hamilton, Amari Jefferson, Bubba Hampton

Analysis: Williams might not start against Western Kentucky, but it seems inevitable he’s going to be a top weapon in the not-so-distant future. Not to put too high of expectations on Williams, but he’s got a chance to be a generational talent. Overall, expect a variety of players to have opportunities at receiver. It’s quite possible five or six receivers have a sizeable role in the offense.

Tight end

Starter: CJ Dippre

Reserves: Robbie Ouzts, Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis, Ty Lockwood, Jay Lindsey

Analysis: Dippre could be a valuable target for Milroe, especially in intermediate throws. Washington had plenty of talented receivers in 2023, but tight end Jack Westover still caught 46 receptions for 433 yards and four scores.

Offensive line

Starters: Kadyn Proctor (left tackle), Tyler Booker (left guard), Parker Brailsford (center), Jaeden Roberts (right guard), Wilkin Formby (right tackle)

Reserves: Elijah Pritchett, Geno VanDeMark, Miles McVay, Naquil Betrand, Casey Poe, Roq Montgomery, Olaus Alinen, Joseph Ionata, William Sanders

Analysis: Proctor should regain the starting left tackle spot by the time the season starts. The main battle figures to be at right tackle between Formby and Pritchett, and the competition could continue into the season.

Defensive line

Starters: LT Overton or Jah-Marien Latham (Bandit), Tim Keenan III or Jehiem Oatis (nose guard), Tim Smith or James Smith (defensive tackle), Quandarrius Robinson or Keanu Koht (Wolf)

Reserves: Damon Payne Jr., Qua Russaw, Keon Keeley, Hunter Osborne, Jordan Renaud, Yhonzae Pierre, Isaia Faga, Jeremiah Beaman, Eric Hill, Noah Carter, Jayshawn Ross

Analysis: The “or” starter designation is necessary for the defensive line considering a rotation is expected. The group mentioned above as starters all have a chance to contribute and could very well end up in the starting lineup. The defense will have some different names under new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. The nose guard and defensive tackle will be two down lineman, and these will be the types of players who would have worked as defensive lineman in Saban’s system. The Wolf will be a player similar to one who would have been an edge defender in the previous defense. Robinson and Koht figure to be the front runners there. Then the Bandit is a linebacker/defensive lineman hybrid. LT Overton and Jah-Marien Latham figure to get plenty of time in that spot.

Linebackers

Starters: Deontae Lawson (Mike), Jihaad Campbell (Stinger)

Reserves: Justin Jefferson, Justin Okoronkwo, Jeremiah Alexander, QB Reese, Cayden Jones, Sterling Dixon

Analysis: Lawson and Campbell are all but set to be the starters here. Campbell has a chance to continue his rise and dominate in Wommack’s defense. The key will be developing depth behind them in case Lawson and Campbell have to miss time with injuries.

Defensive backs

Starters: Malachi Moore (safety), Keon Sabb (safety), Domani Jackson (cornerback), DaShawn Jones (cornerback), DeVonta Smith (Husky)

Reserves: Red Morgan, Zabien Brown, Zavier Mincey, King Mack, Kameron Howard, Jaylen Mbakwe, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., Bray Hubbard, Jahlil Hurley

Analysis: Moore will be the only returning starter from a secondary that has experienced almost a complete reset. Jackson and Jones have a good shot to get the starting nod at cornerback with their experience, but expect Brown and Mincey to get a chance to contribute in some way this season. Smith and Morgan each have a shot to man the Husky position, which is essentially the nickelback in Wommack’s defense.

Specialists

Starters: Graham Nicholson (kicker), James Burnip (punter), Kneeland Hibbett (long snapper)

Reserves: Conor Talty, Reid Schuback, Nick Serpa, Anderson Green, Tucker Cornelius

Analysis: Consider the starting lineup for specialists all but set. Burnip and Hibbett return, and Alabama added the kicker who received the top honor at his position a season ago in Nicholson. He beat out former Alabama kicker Will Reichard for the Lou Groza award.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.