Alabama has already lost a game. Wisconsin has not. Alabama is expecting perfection and a playoff berth. Wisconsin is not. Alabama is a 21.5-point favorite in this game against Wisconsin, and no one outside of Badger Nation is predicting even a close game on Saturday. All of the pressure is on Alabama, none of the pressure is on Wisconsin, and that should matter.
There is coaching pressure attached to both, but Fickell even has less pressure in this one. A loss to Alabama by Fickell this weekend will be only weighed by how much of an improvement (or lack thereof) compared to last season. A loss by Kalen Deboer and Alabama and Tuscaloosa may burn with rage at the second-year coach. Fundraising campaigns will begin and run him out of town.
Wisconsin needs to show improvement, Alabama needs to win, and that's a big difference
Related: The one thing everybody is overlooking with Alabama may play to Wisconsin's advantage
Whether you like it or not, Luke Fickell is going into this season with a long leash. Maybe not so long that he could lose out and keep his job, but he can lose a decent amount this year, and Wisconsin will run it back next season. Especially if it feels like there was dramatic improvement by the Badgers and the schedule got in the way, the same is not true about Kalen DeBoer and Alabama.
There are already odds on who Alabama's next coach will be on some betting sites. If the right boosters had the money collected, he may have been dismissed after the Florida State loss. The only thing that could keep him there is the insane buyout number.
So here's the reality. Wisconsin should play loose, aggressively, like their hair is on fire, and if they find a way to win, it could really change the trajectory of the season for both teams. If Alabama wins, the same is not true. Everything is how it was expected and how it should be.
Wisconsin has no pressure and hopefully plays like it. Give Alabama all that pressure, so they make mistakes and give up the game like they did against Florida State.