Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen was asked this week if he'd shown his team any film from the Bulldogs' 6-3 win over Alabama in 1980. Mullen replied that such clips would likely be more humorous than motivational - haircuts being what they were in 1980.

The fact that we have to go all the way back to 1980 to find the best game with which the 7-0 Bulldogs, No. 11 in the BCS standings, may want to compare this Saturday's matchup with No. 1 Alabama is telling.

There have been more recent victories over the Tide, including three straight in 1996-98 and two in a row in 2006 and 2007, the latter coming in Nick Saban's first year in Tuscaloosa. There also has been another, more recent Alabama-Mississippi State matchup that more closely mirrors the magnitude and stakes of this year's game.

In 1999, Jackie Sherrill's Bulldogs were 8-0 and ranked No. 8 in the country when they came to Bryant-Denny Stadium to take on the 11th-ranked Crimson Tide. Alabama held MSU to 24 yards rushing and forced three turnovers on that day, beating the Bulldogs 19-7 to clinch a spot in the SEC championship game.

That was Mike DuBose's best Alabama team, and it doesn't hold a candle to this year's edition of the Crimson Tide. But that 1999 game does hold some lessons both teams would be wise to heed this week.

No. 1: Run the football.

You're not going to beat many teams on a day when you only rush for 24 yards. But moving the ball on the ground hasn't been a problem for either team this year. Mississippi State's LaDarius Perkins leads the SEC with 724 yards rushing. Alabama, led by Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon, trails only Texas A&M in rushing offense at 219.4 yards per game.

Balance will the key for both teams on Saturday, particularly with these secondaries. Alabama is tied with LSU for the conference lead in interceptions with 13, while Mississippi State is third with 12. If either team becomes one-dimensional, those dogs in the defensive backfield will hunt.

No. 2: Do not turn the ball over.

The Bulldogs and Alabama are Nos. 1 and 3 in turnover margin in FBS, at plus-2.43 and plus-2 Tyler Russell is 26th in passing efficiency, having thrown 15 touchdowns and only one interception. Alabama's AJ McCarron is No. 1, with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions.

That tells you they're taking care of the football. It also tells you they've paid attention to No. 1.

In a game like this, any turnovers will take on magnified importance because the opponent is not likely to return the favor.

These both sound like lessons that apply to every football game, but in any game that involves Alabama, they're doubly important. That's because Alabama wins games up front, on the offensive and defensive lines. If you can't hold your own up there - if you can't run the ball and stop the run - it's going to be a long day.

Mississippi State may take it as a slap in the face that many still consider next week's Alabama-LSU matchup as the date the West will be won. That may be partly due to Mississippi State's pedestrian early schedule, but it's as much a statement on history as anything - the recent history between the Crimson Tide and Tigers and a Mississippi State history that includes only one SEC title way back in 1941.

But Alabama isn't looking past this game. The Crimson Tide may be so molded in Saban's image that they truly don't look past any game - but this one certainly has their attention.

"This is no doubt the best team we've played to this point in the season," Saban said this week. "They always play tough against us. We struggled as much against them last year as anybody we played against."

What would it take for Mississippi State to upset a Crimson Tide team that has its focus squarely on the Bulldogs?

A perfect game. Not 1999. Not 2007. Not even 1980. Perfect.

Contact Mike Herndon at mherndon@press-register.com or follow him on Twitter at @MikeHerndonAMG.