It’s been 96 years since Alabama made the trip to Madison and a lot’s changed since.
Few will likely project a repeat 15-0 Wisconsin win this time as the No. 4 Crimson Tide travel north by air instead of rail.
Wisconsin is still early in a program rebuild as Alabama takes its first trip of the Kalen DeBoer era, the program’s first journey to Big Ten land in 13 years.
So, what matters most when the Crimson Tide heads to Camp Randall Stadium at 11 a.m., CT?
Best-case scenario: Alabama gives Milroe time to operate
Like Auburn, the Crimson Tide is coming off a regression of a second-week game against South Florida. Conversely, it didn’t lose. Instead, the 42-16 final created the illusion of stability, but it avoided the Notre Dame iceberg with a fourth-quarter sprint through the finish line.
There’s still something to prove, especially making a rare journey into the wilds of the Big Ten. In a sense, it’s fitting so many eyes will focus on Alabama’s offensive line since Wisconsin is one of those cradles of big uglies.
There seems to be a growing optimism Alabama’s offensive line will be back to full strength Saturday in Madison after last week’s youth group musical chairs left egos bruised and confidence shaken.
Jalen Milroe didn’t have the time to operate in pockets that either didn’t exist or formed only through the assistance of a holding infraction.
The good news for the Tide is that Wisconsin doesn’t seem to have the same athletes or exotic scheme that South Florida brought to deceive last week.
If Kadyn Proctor’s healthy enough at left tackle to send Tyler Booker back to guard and/or Elijah Pritchett is good to go at right tackle, Alabama would have the optimal protection it was missing most of last Saturday night.
Worst-case scenario: Wisconsin hits the passes USF missed
Among the factors missed in the 42-16 final last week was the number of times USF receivers got open behind the Tide defense only to see poor throws blow the opportunity. That game could’ve looked much different if there was an accurate quarterback in a Bulls jersey.
Wisconsin will have a better passer than South Florida in Tyler Van Dyke, a transfer from Miami who was the 2021 ACC rookie of the year. He has the keys for what the official Wisconsin media game notes terms an “Air Raid offense.”
Sounds like a bad combination of factors until you look at the first two weeks of the season. Wisconsin struggled to a 28-14 win over a Western Michigan team that evaporated last week in a 56-0 loss at Ohio State.
The Broncos led the Badgers 14-13 into the fourth quarter a week before FCS-level South Dakota trailed just 20-13 entering the fourth quarter of a game Wisconsin won 27-13.
If hitting the big play is the key to getting Alabama unsettled, this version of an air raid might not be the best candidate.
Through two games, Wisconsin has four passing plays of 20-plus yards. That’s good for 94th best in the FBS playing against two sub-SEC defenses.
A 50-yard touchdown last week was the longest play of the Badger season after no passing play went for more than 17 yards in the opener.
This was the score pick I made early in the week that already published so I have to stick with it.
But 17 points might be generous for the Badgers in retrospect. Either way, Alabama should cover the point spread which is in the 15-to-16-point range.
