While the Wisconsin Badgers are still undefeated, few people outside of Madison think that they have a real shot to shock the No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny. It is a combination of a few things. Perhaps Alabama's rapid decline has been a tad overstated? Then again, Wisconsin will be going into Tuscaloosa with a backup quarterback in Danny O'Neil for this ballgame.
This played a huge factor in Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman of On3 to take Alabama laying 20.5 points to beat Wisconsin in Week 3. The betting line has since gone up to 21.5 points in Alabama's favor. Although Staples seemed more confident about Alabama winning and covering than even Wasserman did, their comments on this game ahead feel like such an indictment of Luke Fickell...
Worst of all, it kind of felt like with their tones on Andy & Ari that they felt bad for dogging Wisconsin.
Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman have no faith in Wisconsin for this week
Here are some of Staples' thoughts on how he feels about Wisconsin heading into this Week 3 game.
"I don't think Wisconsin is appreciably better. Once again, we think Wisconsin is going to be playing with a backup quarterback ... I'll take Alabama to cover here ... I just feel like it's gonna be the same game as last year."
Wasserman's comments perhaps best encapsulated why Alabama is laying so many points at home.
"That was on the road. We were there. It was a really, really bad game. I don't know if that's clouding my judgement, but I think I'm going to lay the points here ... I don't know if it will be the same game. I just don't know if Wisconsin has enough pop to make this competitive if Alabama plays well."
Here is the entire clip in which Staples and Wasserman pick against the 20.5-point spread for On3.
If this game is really a loser leaves town match, why is Kalen DeBoer getting the benefit of the doubt?
Luke Fickell is not overcoming his overall national media downgrade
Truth be told, can we really blame Staples and Wasserman for their assessment of Wisconsin football right now? Yes, O'Neil has been fun to watch play over the last few weeks, but the national narrative is that this team really needs Billy Edwards Jr. to be as competitive as the Badgers could be. That may not be entirely true, especially if O'Neil Wally Pipp-s him. However, last year's Alabama game was bad.
Tyler Van Dyke bowing out of the contest in the early stages culminated in another frustrating season under Fickell. Once again, he is saddled with another injury to his starting quarterback. Unfortunately, nobody outside of Wisconsin seems to care at all about that notion. It stinks, but it is reality. What is important to know is Alabama may overlook Wisconsin in this one, allowing things to get interesting.
Overall, this does feel like an indictment of Fickell. He was a bona-fide, blue-chipper, up-and-coming coach coming to Wisconsin from Cincinnati. Now look at him... While DeBoer is not without his faults, he is only in year two replacing a legend in Nick Saban at the helm of the Crimson Tide. It is why all the pressure is actually on his team on Saturday. Can you imagine what will happen if Alabama starts 1-2?
Staples and Wasserman are not buying into Wisconsin because they are not buying into Fickell...