College football odds: Alabama solid favorite over Wisconsin in opener

Alabama and Wisconsin open the 2015 season Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Crimson Tide are solidly favored over the Badgers, with Alabama looking better equipped to replace the talent it lost after last year.

Author:
OddsShark
Publish date:
Sep 2, 2015

Despite going 12–2 straight up last season, Alabama was just 4–9–1 against the spread. The No. 3 Crimson Tide open their 2015 season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday.

Alabama is a 10.5-point betting favorite over Wisconsin according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. This will be the 68th straight game in which the Crimson Tide are the betting favorite, dating all the way back to December 2009.

On offense, Alabama loses quarterback Blake Sims (who set the single-season record for passing yards last season), running back T.J. Yeldon (the school's No. 4 all-time leading rusher) and the team's top three receivers, including superstar Amari Cooper. For most schools, this would be impossible to overcome, but it’s just business as usual in Alabama.

2015-16 Preseason Bowl Projections: Who will make the playoff this year?

Elite prospects at every position have been recruited to replace the players who have moved on. The returning star of the offense is running back Derrick Henry, who had 990 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 172 carries last season. Jake Coker, Alec Morris and Cooper Bateman will battle for the starting quarterback position, which may continue into the regular season.

Wisconsin has a history of replacing its running backs like clockwork, but Corey Clement has some big shoes to fill this season. Melvin Gordon led college football with 2,587 rushing yards last season and had 29 rushing touchdowns as well. Corey Clement racked up 949 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in relief last year and will get an early test against Alabama’s stout defense. The Badgers are 1–3 SU and ATS in their last four games against SEC opponents.

• ODDS: OSU opens title defense as double-digit favorite over Virginia Tech

The total for Saturday’s Badgers vs. Crimson Tide betting matchup is currently set at 50.5 points. The OVER has gone 4–0 in Alabama’s last four games for totals bettors according to the OddsShark College Football Database.

Alabama’s quarterback battle is not only interesting for its long-term implications, but also for the difficulties it could pose for Wisconsin. Coker has a huge arm, Bateman has great athleticism with solid speed and Morris is the most consistent pocket passer in the fold. The Badgers will need to be on top of their in-game adjustments to react to which quarterback is on the field for the Crimson Tide.

GALLERY: SEC PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2015

SEC players to watch in 2015

Derrick Henry, Alabama RB

Alabama's line of elite running backs continues with Henry, who is a nightmare for SEC defenses. His 6'3", 241-pound frame makes him nearly impossible to bring down. Henry ran for nearly 6 yards per carry and caught five passes that went for 133 yards and two touchdowns in 2014 while sharing time T.J. Yeldon.

Dak Prescott, Mississippi State QB

Prescott exploded onto the SEC scene in his junior season as he turned Mississippi State into the top-ranked team by the middle of the season. He threw for over 3,400 yards and nearly ran for 1,000 more. Prescott's presence under center gives the Bulldogs hope in the SEC West.

Derek Barnett, Tennessee DE

In his first year on the field, Barnett looked like a man amongst boys. As a true freshman, he recorded over 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. The sky is the limit for Barnett, who will terrorize SEC quarterbacks for at least two more years.

Nick Chubb, Georgia RB

Chubb emerged as a consistent force behind Todd Gurley, powering through defenders with his thick frame. As his workload increased with Gurley's suspension and injury, Chubb averaged over seven yards per carry on his way to 1,547 yards.

D'haquille Williams, Auburn WR

Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/MCT via Getty Images

Williams ditched the NFL draft and former teammate Sammie Coates, opting for a second season at Auburn. The explosive juco transfer had over 700 yards on just 45 catches last season, and he will be extra motivated for his senior year after a suspension kept him out of the Tigers' Outback Bowl loss to Wisconsin.

Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss DT

Nkemdiche was the No. 1 overall recruit of the 2013 class, and in 2014 he helped transform the Rebels into an SEC title contender. As the glue holding together the Ole Miss defensive line, Nkemdiche is the foundational piece of the Landsharks defense.

Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida CB

Although Hargreaves' time at Florida has seen the program accomplish little, he has completely lived up to the billing. He recorded three interceptions each in 2013 and '14, so don't be surprised if Hargreaves turns his own little corner of Gainesville into an island this upcoming season.

Leonard Fournette, LSU RB

Fournette battled the pressure of immense hype on his way to a highly productive season in his true freshman campaign. The New Orleans native ran for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Tigers and has barely scratched the surface of his potential.

Myles Garrett, Texas A&M DE

Garrett is one of the most feared defensive lineman in college football, and only turned 19 after the season. He broke Jadaveon Clowney's SEC freshman sack record in 2014, finishing the year with 11.5 sacks as well as a blocked kick.

Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss WR

Thomas Graning/The Daily Mississippian/AP

Treadwell's 2014 season ended tragically when he broke his leg against Auburn, but he proved himself to be one of the conference's top receivers during Ole Miss's 7-1 start. The rising junior racked up 632 yards on 48 catches and scored five touchdowns. He's expected to be ready for the start of the season.