Alabama Football: The One Game Alabama Better Not Take for Granted

November is going to be a tough month for the Crimson Tide with LSU and Auburn both on the schedule, but one game that Alabama had better not overlook is on November 12th when they travel to Starkville, Mississippi to face Dan Mullen and the quickly bulking Bulldogs.

People in the know knew Mullen was a coach who could turn that down and out dog pound into winners, but few expected results as fast as Mullen has given them.

In case you've forgotten the Bulldogs lost a would've-could've game against the eventual BCS Champion Auburn Tigers 17-14 in a game that showed that Mississippi State could flex those defensive muscles. They held Auburn to some of the lowest figures they had all season. Had one or two plays gone differently, there would not be an SEC team as the BCS Champion.

And to think that with good players coming off red shirt years and a returning nucleus on both offense and defense, they could and should be even better this year.

Mark my words, once recruits see that Mullen is going to stay put and that going to State means playing for a bowl team and an SEC contender, things will only get better.

Chris Relf could be one of the SEC leaders this year at the quarterback position. He is now experienced, self confident and has weapons to bring to the party. Besides a good and strong arm, he was the team's second leading rusher with 713 yards. 

He also has some nice people to hand the ball off to also.

Vick Ballard finished the year just under 1,000 yards in rushing and he will break that this year. He's also a threat catching the ball out of the backfield. 

LaDarius Perkins chipped in 566 yards as a freshman last year and he's sure to see more carries and get more yards this year too.

Chad Bumphis proved himself to be a go to guy last season with 44 grabs for over 600 yards. He almost double his 2009 stats and this year's improvement could be another huge one.

Everyone knows that State can bring the defense but it's the offense that many teams overlook and shouldn't. They are bringing back all their major weapons and it could get ugly and get ugly fast for teams that aren't 100 percent ready for what this team can do.

This is the biggest trap game Alabama will play this year. 

The handy fashion they beat them in last year may relax some team members, but that was a team that was battered and banged up late in the year. With incoming help they didn't have last year and a little luck, they two may face this year's matchup with equal health and that may not be a good thing for the Tide.

Should the Bulldogs upset LSU early on, then the SEC race may be decided by this game.

Yes it's still early, but don't look too far past this game.