Alabama

Predicting the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Season: Wisconsin Badgers

Published

2 years ago

July 29, 2024

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.

Colin Hitschler has switched sidelines.

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

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

Poll

It’s WAY early, but not too early to bet. What say you?

0%

Bama does not cover 9.

(0 votes)
0%

A 9 point Tide win sounds spot on.

(0 votes)
25%

Bama wins by 10-14.

(1 vote)
75%

Bama wins by 15-20.

(3 votes)
0%

Bama wins 21 or more.

(0 votes)

4 votes total

Vote Now

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

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Alabama

Breaking Down Auburn’s Path to the NCAA Tournament Ahead of Alabama Clash

Published

1 hour ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Breaking Down Auburn’s Path to the NCAA Tournament Ahead of Alabama Clash

The Auburn Tigers are firmly on the bubble heading into the final game of the regular season, and the urgency couldn’t be higher for Steven Pearl and company.

Auburn travels to Tuscaloosa for a rematch with the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, currently standing at 16-14 overall and 7-10 in the SEC. Alabama knocked off the Tigers on their home floor at Neville Arena just over three weeks ago, meaning Auburn should be seeking revenge this weekend inside Coleman Coliseum.

The Tigers have dropped seven of their last nine games, most recently falling to Ole Miss 85-79 last Saturday and defeating LSU by 14 points on Tuesday’s senior night. Auburn played like two extremely different teams in these two matchups, and it certainly needs to carry the momentum it garnered from the midweek win into Saturday.

The newly updated NCAA Tournament projections feature Auburn on the outside looking in, according to multiple outlets. The Tigers are listed as ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s second team out of the field, which is disappointing after sitting as a solid No. 7-seed just a few weeks ago.

In CBS Sports’ latest bracketology, Auburn is projected to land as the First Team Out, alongside New Mexico, Seton Hall, and Indiana. However, the Tigers actually boast a higher NET ranking than all seven of the other squads featured in CBS Sports’ Last Four In and Last Four Out.

Prior to its clash with Ole Miss last Saturday, the general consensus was that if Auburn took care of business on its home floor against the Rebels and LSU, the Tigers would put themselves in a good position to crack the tournament, assuming they lost to Alabama in the season finale.

However, obviously, Auburn was unable to get both tasks done, as Pearl’s squad, frankly, seemed uninspired in what was a near must-win game for the Tigers versus Ole Miss. Auburn looked slightly more motivated in its victory over LSU on Tuesday, but could it be too late?

Now, with Auburn sitting just two games over .500 overall and playing some of its worst basketball as of late, it feels as if its season is absolutely on the line in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

ESPN’s most recent betting odds lean toward Auburn missing the tournament, but a win over the Crimson Tide could, and would, certainly shift that line.

If the Tigers are able to emerge from Coleman Coliseum victorious, which would be a top-20 Quad-1 win on the road, they will most likely hear their name called on Selection Sunday.

But on the flip side, if Auburn falls to its arch rival to close the regular season, it would likely need to win three games or more in the SEC Tournament next week to feel somewhat hopeful about its postseason fate.

Nonetheless, as mentioned previously, there’s no excuse why urgency shouldn’t be at an all-time high on Saturday. With their NCAA Tournament hopes virtually on the line and a chance for revenge on their most-hated rival, the Tigers should come out desperate and hungry from the tip.

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Alabama

Southern 88-85 Alabama A&M (Mar 5, 2026) Game Recap – ESPN

Published

13 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Southern 88-85 Alabama A&M (Mar 5, 2026) Game Recap – ESPN

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — — Terrance Dixon Jr.’s 19 points helped Southern defeat Alabama A&M 88-85 on Thursday.

Dixon shot 7 of 10 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Jaguars (15-16, 11-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference). Michael Jacobs scored 15 points while going 4 of 11 and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line, and added five rebounds. AJ Barnes shot 3 for 7 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points, while adding six rebounds.

Koron Davis finished with 23 points for the Bulldogs (17-14, 10-8). James Graham added 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals for Alabama A&M. Kintavious Dozier also had 12 points.

The Jaguars led by 10 points with 59 seconds to go, before the Bulldogs executed a three-point play from Bilal Abdur-Rahim then got a 3-pointer from Dozier in the span of nine seconds, cutting the deficit to four. A free throw battle closed out the result for the Jaguars.

——

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Alabama

Top-30 overall recruit Jaxon Richardson commits to Alabama

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Top-30 overall recruit Jaxon Richardson commits to Alabama

Jaxon Richardson, the No. 27 overall recruit in the 2026 class per the Rivals Industry Ranking, has committed to Alabama.

The 6-foot-6 four-star small forward out of Southeastern Prep (FL) ultimately chose the Crimson Tide over USC, Creighton, and Ole Miss. He also received offers from Miami, Cincinnati, Michigan, Florida, Villanova, and others.

Richardson, a McDonald’s All-American, becomes the Crimson Tide’s third commitment of the 2026 cycle. He joins four-star shooting guard Qayden Samuels (No. 28 NATL) and four-star small forward Tarris Bouie (No. 54 NATL).

He’s the son of NBA veteran and two-time NBA Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson. His older brother, Jase, played for Michigan State last season before being selected 25th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.

More on Richardson

Rivals’ National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw says Richardson is one of the most explosive players in the 2026 class:

Jaxon Richardson is able to combine fluid athleticism with explosive burst in a way no other player in this class can. He uses his athleticism to his advantage on the floor. He fills the outside channels with a purpose in transition, he is aggressive in the passing lanes, and he plays as a vertical floor spacer in the dunker spots and lob plays. Last summer, playing with the Florida Rebels on Nike’s EYBL Circuit, the 6-foot-6 wing averaged 12.8 points on 54.0 percent shooting and 10.5 attempts per game. Last high school season, he averaged 12.9 points on 61.0 percent shooting on 8.9 attempts per game. He is a highly efficient player, as 84.4 percent of his makes last high school season were at the rim.

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