NCAA Football BETTING PREVIEW - Wisconsin Badgers @ Alabama Crimson Tide

NCAA Football

2025-09-13 - Wisconsin Badgers at Alabama Crimson Tide

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Wisconsin Badgers @ Alabama Crimson Tide
United States : College Football Week 3
Saturday 13th September 2025 - Scheduled 12pm
5pm (British Time)

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Preview

This may only be the start of the second year in charge of the Alabama Crimson Tide (1-1), but Kalen DeBoer may struggle to hold onto his job if his team lose to another non-Conference opponent in Week 3. They bounced back from a really poor performance against the Florida State Seminoles to beat UL Monroe, but expectations are always huge around Alabama and missing out on another College Football Playoff will likely spell the end of DeBoer's time as Head Coach.

The chances of reaching the Playoff will depend on how Alabama go the rest of the way, although it is very difficult to see how they would recover from a second defeat this early in the season. In two weeks time they have to travel to Athens to play the Georgia Bulldogs and the likes of Tennessee, South Carolina and LSU are still on deck.

We are yet to see how the loss to the Seminoles will stack up, but losing to the Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) might be harder to explain away with the visiting team just 14-13 under the guidance of Head Coach Luke Fickell.

The Badgers have yet to be tested in the 2025 season, but are expected to be without starting Quarter Back Billy Edwards Jr, even if he is looking to travel with the team. Instead the focus will be on Danny O'Neil who has experience as a starter with the San Diego State Aztecs, but who will rarely have been up against anything that closely resembles the Alabama Defensive unit.

They shut out UL Monroe last week after underperforming against the Seminoles and the Crimson Tide Defensive Line will certainly feel they can win at the Line of Scrimmage against this Badgers Offensive Line. This time they are not facing a dual-threat Quarter Back and so Alabama can play the game with a bit more confidence up front and force Danny O'Neil to try and beat them through the air.

Wisconsin's Offensive Line may feel they can give O'Neil some time in the pocket, but he is going to be throwing from third and long at times and against an Alabama Secondary that is looking very strong.

It may be tough for the Badgers to move the ball with consistency, but they will be motivated for a big performance having been thumped by the Crimson Tide in Madison last season.

Much like Alabama, the Badgers will look to try and win on the Line of Scrimmage when they are on the Defensive side of the ball and try and force the pressure onto Quarter Back Ty Simpson of the home team. In recent years the Crimson Tide Offensive Line have been big and strong though and you have to believe that they can get something going on the ground.

Easing the burden on Ty Simpson is important, as is the fact that he will have one of his top Receivers back when Ryan Williams is expected to be have passed through the concussion protocol. He looked to be growing into the game against Florida State before putting in a big performance against ULM, and being in front of the chains should make the play-calling that much more comfortable for Simpson to execute.

You have to believe the Crimson Tide will show their qualities in this one, especially as the hosts, and they have been a decent home favourite to get behind.

This is a big spread, but with two weeks coming up to prepare for Georgia, the Crimson Tide can leave it all out on the field and they can put a thumping on Wisconsin for a second season in a row. A couple of turnovers will help, and the feeling is that the Defensive unit can make enough big plays to offer up some short field opportunities, which will ultimately allow the home team to pull clear of the spread set.

Prediction

Lay the points with the home favourite, even in this pressurised spot.

The Pick :

Alabama Crimson Tide 34-10 Wisconsin Badgers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Alabama Crimson Tide - 20 Points at -110 with EveryGame Sportsbook