Alabama opens the season ranked No. 3 in the nation which is quite lofty considering they return just 10 players and start a new starting quarterback yet to be determined.
The Crimson Tide also play one of the very toughest schedules in the county, and it starts with Wisconsin. The Badgers are top-20 to start the season and have a new yet familiar head coach, but the Badgers should be a formidable foe for ‘Bama.
ODDS
Alabama is an 11-point favorite over Wisconsin with a total of 49.5.
This is a neutral site game and Alabama has won 13-straight season openers while Wisconsin blew a 24-7 lead last year in losing to LSU for the Badgers first season-opening loss in sixteen seasons.
KEY MISMATCH
Alabama’s defensive front seven against Wisconsin’s running game and receivers:
Senior QB Joel Stave returns as the Wisconsin starter, but last year he completed just 53 percent of his passes for 1,350 yards and a 9/10 TD-to-INT ratio. He handed the ball to the Big Ten’s best back often and the Badgers had one of the league’s very best offensive lines.
That’s not the case this season with some shuffling along the line due to injuries in camp, and new running backs and sub-par receivers taking over for the Badgers.
KEY STAT
Alabama shut down Arkansas’ strong running game last year in a 14-13 road win holding the Razorbacks to 89 yards rushing on 39 attempts. The next week they blew out Texas A&M 59-0 holding the Aggies to 31 yards rushing.
The Badgers appear to have one of the Big Ten’s better defenses again and have nearly matched Alabama’s stats the past two seasons allowing less than 306 yards per game each year.
BETTING ANGLE
In Wisconsin’s last 20 losses the past six years, 19 have come by 10 points or less.
Alabama has gone 6-1 ATS in its last seven season openers with Nick Saban having time to prepare. However, last year was that one ATS loss winning by just 10 laying 25 against West Virginia on a neutral field.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
I’m not convinced Alabama is dominant enough to be laying double-digits at this site against a perennially strong Wisconsin team. But there are concerns for the Badgers if they cannot run the ball effectively.
Wisconsin figures to struggle in the passing game, which will make it difficult to catch up should they fall behind by more than two touchdowns. And note Alabama shut down Arkansas’ dominant running game last season.
Alabama reloads annually, and its defense is projected to be very strong once again with top-tier talent along the line and at linebacker. But this is not a top-tier ‘Bama team to start the season with plenty of questions to be answered at the skill positions on offense.
This team both rushed and passed for an average of at least 200 yards per game in each of the last four seasons, but the offense could be slowed to start the season with a near overhaul of starting players.
This marquee matchup will have the ESPN College GameDay crew on site. Not enough confidence on either side but the strength of each team is on defense, so the preferred play is ‘under’ the total as both teams battle to control the line of scrimmage, ball, clock and chains.
Alabama 27, Wisconsin 16
The college football lines for this contest were first released by BookMaker and the Alabama Crimson Tide were positioned as 10.5-point favorites with a total of 49.5. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The Wisconsin Badgers and Alabama Crimson Tide square off on Saturday, September 5, 2015, at 8:00 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The matchup will be televised live on ABC.
