Alabama Football: 2015 Game-by-Game Schedule Predictions

For the first time in several years, Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide will enter the upcoming football season looking up at a program that has taken their spot as the national title favorite.

But Alabama still is as strong a contender as any for a second-straight SEC championship and berth in the College Football Playoff thanks to the long run of excellence the program has enjoyed under Saban.

The Crimson Tide's offense must replace a number of key starters—including the bulk of the passing attack—but offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is back for what could be a huge second year in Tuscaloosa.

Strong defense should be a theme again under Saban and coordinator Kirby Smart as the Tide return several stars in their front seven. Rebuilding a shaky secondary is key this fall, but the staff can rely on some experience and new blue-chip talent in 2015.

Alabama's schedule should be one of the toughest its had under Saban, starting with a neutral-site opener against a consistent Power 5 program and continuing with road challenges against its two biggest competitors for the SEC crown.

Let's take a game-by-game look at the tough 2015 slate for the Crimson Tide and post some predictions for what should be another exciting season of football at Alabama.

Sept. 5 vs. Wisconsin (Arlington)

Even with a surprising transition to a new head coach in Paul Chryst—Gary Andersen left the Badgers for Oregon State this offseason—Wisconsin is probably the best bet to win the Big Ten West. But Paul Chryst's squad doesn't have a favorable matchup to start the new era by any means.

Wisconsin's offense returns five starters, and while two of them are the top quarterback and receiver from last season, the rushing attack looks like it will be in much better shape with junior Corey Clement taking over for Melvin Gordon. Joel Stave threw for nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in nine starts last year, and Alex Erickson is the only returning receiver who scored in 2014.

Defense is a different story, with successful coordinator Dave Aranda deciding to stay in Madison after Andersen's departure. Aranda has six returning starters and several more veterans returning on a defense that ranked No. 4 nationally in total yardage last season.

The Badger defense should be a good opening test for an Alabama offense in transition, but Wisconsin doesn't appear to have the weapons to challenge the secondary in Week 1. Alabama wins this one by double-digits, although it might be tight in the first half.

Predicted Record: 1-0 (0-0 SEC)

Sept. 12 vs. Middle Tennessee State

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Middle Tennessee State has three wins all-time against SEC opponents and could make it four this season. But all three of those previous victories came against Vanderbilt, and the Blue Raiders have to wait until October to host the Commodores.

The Blue Raiders had their own quarterback controversy, of sorts, in spring practice, as junior Austin Grammer battled redshirt freshman Brent Stockstill, son of head coach Rick Stockstill. Grammer threw for 2,557 yards and 17 touchdowns last season but had some issues with turnovers. MTSU must replace two of its top three receivers and its leading rusher this season.

MTSU's defense returns eight starters from a unit that finished 91st nationally last season in yards per play. The Blue Raiders allowed more than 200 yards rushing in half of their games, including a 284-yard performance by Minnesota, their only Power Five opponent on the season.

Alabama should win this tuneup game for the start of the SEC season without problems. Though they are experienced, the Blue Raiders don't show many of the factors one looks for in a potential giant-killer.

Predicted Record: 2-0 (0-0 SEC)

Sept. 19 vs. Ole Miss

The first blockbuster game on what should be a treacherous schedule for Alabama, the Crimson Tide open the SEC season with a chance at revenge on Ole Miss.

The only real hole on an Ole Miss offense that pegged Alabama for 396 yards last season is at quarterback, where the Rebels must replace Bo Wallace. Whoever wins the battle among Chad Kelly, Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade will inherit an offense that returns its top two rushers, a veteran-laden offensive line and a group of talented wide receivers led by the returning Laquon Treadwell.

The defensive "Land Sharks" lost a few key players in the secondary, but they still return plenty of the top faces from last season—elite defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, transitioning linebacker C.J. Johnson and do-it-all defensive back Tony Conner. If a few of the heavily hyped newcomers can step up, Ole Miss has the potential to do big things again in 2015.

This matchup is early enough in the season to cause some real problems for the Alabama offense—the run-first nature will play right into the strength of the Ole Miss defense. A fast-paced, spread attack with those receivers will also be troublesome for the Tide's secondary. Even with Saban's record in "revenge games," Ole Miss has the experience and matchup advantages to pull off another surprising upset of Alabama.

Predicted Record: 2-1 (0-1 SEC)

Sept. 26 vs. UL-Monroe

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After a tough game against Ole Miss, Alabama will be able to rebound with an easy victory over a Sun Belt opponent in UL-Monroe.

The Warhawks took a step backward last season under longtime head coach Todd Berry, finishing with a 4-8 record. They gave Texas A&M quite a scare, but Kentucky and LSU were able to dispatch them 31-0 earlier in the season. Look for the ULM offense to return to its dual-threat roots this season with a new quarterback—Pete Thomas wasn't as much of a runner as successful Warhawk signal-callers of the past.

Eight starters return on ULM's defense, one that had impressive performances against Wake Forest and Texas A&M but got lit up by the likes of Arkansas State, UL-Lafayette and Georgia Southern. Alabama's run game should be able to have an advantage, as stopping backs was ULM's Achilles' heel for most of the 2014 season.

A lot has changed since the last time ULM faced and then beat Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide roll easily here.

Predicted Record: 3-1 (0-1 SEC)

Oct. 3 at Georgia

One of the biggest games of the SEC season will be contested between the two teams picked by the media to win their respective divisions—Alabama and Georgia. 

Georgia's offense, which is also going through its own quarterback battle at the moment, should have a simple approach this season. Sophomore running back Nick Chubb leads a stacked running back depth chart in Athens after averaging a ridiculous 7.1 yards per carry in 2014, and he'll play behind four returning starters on the offensive line.

Passing will be a new issue as the Bulldogs must replace their top two receivers with a group that continues to suffer injury woes.

On defense, the Bulldogs will be able to provide pressure on Alabama's quarterback with great edge pressure from Jordan Jenkins, Lorenzo Carter and Leonard Floyd. The secondary is experienced as well, but issues remain in the middle of a run defense that allowed 5.77 yards per carry in its three losses last season.

Georgia's strengths on offense match Alabama's strengths on defense, and the Tide should be able to move the ball on the ground effectively in Athens with Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake. In this matchup of division powers, Alabama looks like the better pick, even in its first true road game of the season.

Predicted Record: 4-1 (1-1 SEC)

Oct. 10 vs. Arkansas

Perhaps the hottest pick in the SEC West this season, Arkansas will provide a tough test for Alabama right after the trip to Georgia. This Arkansas team is a far cry from the ones that lost 52-0 in back-to-back seasons and will provide a similar challenge to the one that fell 14-13 last season.

The Razorback offense will focus on ball control and hammering away at Alabama's defense with the ground game. Arkansas has an established quarterback in Brandon Allen for play-action situations, and Keon Hatcher and Hunter Henry were the top two players in receiving yards last season for Arkansas. Behind a veteran offensive line, you know what you're going to get with this attack.

Defense is a different story. The Hogs will be solid up front with JaMichael Winston and Taiwan Johnson, and Brooks Ellis is a reliable tackler at linebacker. But Arkansas must make several important replacements of NFL talents on its defense—one that surrendered more than 400 yards last season to Auburn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Missouri.

If Lane Kiffin can continue to speed up and spread out defenses with Alabama, the Crimson Tide could have a big offensive performance against Arkansas. And with injured running back Jonathan Williams now missing from that veteran one-two punch with Alex Collins, Arkansas' offense isn't as fearsome as it once was in the preseason.

Predicted Record: 5-1 (2-1 SEC)

Oct. 17 at Texas A&M

Alabama's second road game of the season takes the Tide to a newly renovated Kyle Field for a matchup against a Texas A&M team it beat 59-0 last year.

Don't expect another shutout performance for the Alabama defense. Kyle Allen—or possibly true freshman Kyler Murray—will face Alabama with one of the nation's strongest set of wide receivers. Josh Reynolds, Speedy Noil, Ricky Seals-Jones and Edward Pope each recorded at least 400 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season in Kevin Sumlin's uptempo offense.

And look for a stronger emphasis on the running game after Sumlin's offseason hire of former Utah coordinator Dave Christensen.

The defense is the biggest question mark yet again for Texas A&M, but the Aggies have hope in the form of John Chavis. The former Tennessee and LSU defensive coordinator has a lot of work to do with this unit, but it has some highly touted talent, none bigger than pass-rusher Myles Garrett. 

While Bleacher Report's own Barrett Sallee picked Texas A&M to upset Alabama in the above video, the Tide should have the advantage in this road trip. The matchup will most likely be too high-scoring for Saban's comfort, but give the edge right now to Alabama's experienced defense over Chavis' potential-laden one at A&M.

Predicted Record: 6-1 (3-1 SEC)

Oct. 24 vs. Tennessee

Another trendy upset pick, Tennessee is barreling into the 2015 season with its hype train in the SEC East. 

There's a lot to like about this Tennessee team, especially on offense. Nine starters return for the Volunteers, including quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who gave Tennessee a spark off the bench against Alabama last season. Jalen Hurd and former Tide running back Alvin Kamara should provide a nice burst out of the backfield, and an experienced set of receivers will challenge Alabama's secondary.

On defense, experience is the name of the game again for Tennessee. Eight starters are back, including sack masters Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett. Tennessee has a couple of places down the middle of the defense that will need first-time starters, but they'll be tested—and rested—heading into Tuscaloosa this year.

Tennessee might be able to turn some momentum around in this rivalry after eight straight losses at the hands of Alabama. But the Vols haven't gotten that first big road win yet under Butch Jones, and it most likely won't come in Tuscaloosa this season. Alabama takes a tight victory here.

Predicted Record: 7-1 (4-1 SEC)

Nov. 7 vs. LSU

After back-to-back weeks of opponents getting a week off before facing Alabama, the Tide will get a breather before hosting LSU in what could be another heavyweight collision.

LSU didn't need an effective passing game to hang with Alabama last season, preferring instead to play great defense and keep the ball on the ground. Sophomore star Leonard Fournette will be the face of the LSU attack this season as he runs behind a line with three returning starters. If the Tigers can piece together an aerial threat with either Brandon Harris or Anthony Jennings, they have experience at wide receiver.

The defense will be an interesting story throughout the year at LSU. With John Chavis now at Texas A&M, former Alabama assistant Kevin Steele is now in charge of the defense. The Tigers have their usual cast of stars, but depth has been a concern at defensive line and linebacker—and secondary leader Jalen Mills will miss at least the first few weeks of the season with injury, so issues could crop up there.

If this is another run-first, defense-dominated matchup in Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama should record the victory here. LSU's offense plays right into the strengths of the Crimson Tide and has less depth on the defensive side of the ball. 

Predicted Record: 8-1 (5-1 SEC)

Nov. 14 at Mississippi State

Last season's meeting between Mississippi State and Alabama was a rarity in the series—the Bulldogs were the ones boasting a No. 1 ranking. But Alabama's early lead led to a seventh-straight win over Mississippi State, and the rematch looks like it'll be back to its old ways this season.

Mississippi State's biggest reason for optimism this year is senior quarterback Dak Prescott. The dual-threat signal-caller had 290 yards and two passing touchdowns but three interceptions against the Crimson Tide last season, and he'll look for a better performance alongside top receiver De'Runnya Wilson. Other than those two stars, Mississippi State just returns a pair of offensive linemen from last season's starting lineup on offense.

The experience level drops off on defense, where only three starters return. While many of the new starters are upperclassmen, the Bulldogs can't rely on the know-how it had on defense during last season's storybook run. Ryan and Beniquez Brown will be ones to watch, as well as Taveze Calhoun, a lockdown corner who could trouble Alabama's passing attack.

If the ever-present threat of Dak Prescott can break loose and have a big day against Alabama's pass defense, this one could be much closer than expected. But too much turnover will make this one of the Crimson Tide's easier conference games of the season—even in cowbell-clanging Starkville.

Predicted Record: 9-1 (6-1 SEC)

Nov. 21 vs. Charleston Southern

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Alabama's FCS foe this season is Charleston Southern, who had a solid 8-4 season out of the Big South last year but lost 55-9 to Georgia.

The Buccaneers, who almost knocked off struggling Vanderbilt in 2014, will also play Troy earlier in the season for a double-dip of Alabama schools. Charleston Southern could get some production out of sophomore Darius Hammond, who is splitting time at running back with Ben Robinson, according to David Shelton of the Post and Courier.

"Darius Hammond is a proven playmaker on special teams, providing the Bucs a dynamic option as a kick and punt returner," Alex Byington of the Montgomery Advertiser wrote. "Last season Hammond ranked fifth nationally averaging 13.8 yards per punt return and had a program record 74-yard punt return for a touchdown in a win over The Citadel."

This one will be nothing more than an easy tune-up game for Alabama before the Iron Bowl, much like last season's 48-14 win over Western Carolina.

Predicted Record: 10-1 (6-1 SEC)

Nov. 28 at Auburn

Alabama's return to Jordan-Hare Stadium might once again determine the SEC West's representative in Atlanta and later the conference's bid into the College Football Playoff. If you're reading this, you probably know that it doesn't get any bigger than the Iron Bowl.

Last year's 55-44 shootout win for the Tide featured a shocking 456 yards through the air by the Auburn offense. This season, Auburn has a quarterback in Jeremy Johnson, who is more comfortable in the pocket than the departed Nick Marshall, and a No. 1 receiver in D'haquille Williams. As the case has been each of the last two seasons, Auburn will also have multiple options at running back and an offensive line with experience.

Like Texas A&M, defense can go a number of different ways this season for Auburn under new coordinator Will Muschamp. The former Florida head coach has been successful on defense everywhere he's coached, and he has several key players in his new arsenal, including Carl Lawson, the pass-rush specialist who missed all of 2014. Auburn's secondary, its usual weak link, will have depth issues heading into the season after a mass exodus of transfers in the offseason.

Both Alabama and Auburn have equal strengths and question marks at this point in the preseason, so picking the winner of the Iron Bowl this far in advance is extremely difficult—the mother of all toss-up games. But right now, on paper, I lean toward the overall depth of Alabama to win an instant classic and the SEC West.

Predicted Record: 11-1 (7-1 SEC)

Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.