Evaluating key factors in Alabama vs. Wisconsin matchup, picking winner

On Saturday, No. 4 Alabama will head north to square off against Wisconsin. According to FanDuel, Alabama is a 15.5-point favorite. On Monday, On3’s Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman broke down the matchup by first dissecting Alabama’s Week 2 triumph over South Florida.

“Alabama looked unstoppable in Week 1 against Western Kentucky,” Staples said. “But Alabama against USF… Now, things got considerably better when Alabama brought [Elijah] Pritchett in at right tackle because he was not playing, and remember, Kadyn Proctor‘s not playing because he’s hurt. So they were without both their starting tackles.”

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Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer hadn’t intended to play Pritchett against USF because he’d suffered a minor injury in Week 1 against Western Kentucky. However, when Alabama entered the fourth quarter with only a 14-13 lead, he was forced to put Pritchett into the game.

Alabama’s offense came to life with Pritchett on the front five, outscoring the Bulls 28-3 in the fourth quarter to secure a 42-16 victory. Yet, Alabama’s first three quarters showed the team is far from invulnerable.

Hence, Staples believes Alabama’s success against Wisconsin will come down to its offensive line’s health.

“I’m going to pick it that Alabama covers,” Staples said. “It’s because Alabama will be playing with a — I don’t know if they’re fully healthy — but at least a fully intact, starting offensive line. I don’t think Wisconsin is going to be able to hang with them.”

Wisconsin hasn’t blown away its competition through the first two weeks. In Week 1, the Badgers defeated Western Michigan 28-14 and followed up the lackluster performance with a 27-13 win over South Dakota this past weekend.

Wasserman isn’t convinced Wisconsin can compete on the same level as the Crimson Tide.

“[Wisconsin] played in games that were in question in the second half against Western Michigan, a team that Ohio State just beat like 100 to nothing,” Wasserman said. “They just might not be a very good team this year.”

The Badgers will have one week to prepare for the Crimson Tide. On Saturday, the two teams will clash at noon ET. The game will be broadcast on FOX.