Predicting the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Season: Wisconsin Badgers

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