4 to 7 wins is the realistic range, as of this evening.
Which is quite the improvement, given that most people were thinking 2 to 4 wins just last Sunday.
The defense that won the game today is vastly improved over the defense that did its share in losing to Ga State week 1.
The offense isn't much improved...yet. Maurer, for all the excitement he brings, is still a freshman making freshman mistakes (like throwing into double coverage). As we saw today, there's a real cost, in points, to those mistakes. Has to mature and learn. [on the flip side, the OL, much maligned the past few years, is finally getting up to SEC caliber--they won't look it next weekend against Bama, but they're getting there].
So...where our defense can carry us, we can win. That might include South Carolina, now that they're on their 3rd string QB (and we get them soon). That might include Vandy and Kentucky. It should include UAB. Might not include Mizzou, though, they're scoring in the high-30s per game.
So give us losses to Bama and maybe Mizzou, wins over UAB and 2 of the other 3 (USCe-Vandy-Kentucky), and that puts us around 5-7 or maybe 6-6.
That's what it looks like to me at the moment. If I were forced to bet, I'd bet against getting to a bowl this year. But it's a very close thing.
If we continue to improve faster than our peers, though...i reserve the right to change this opinion in three weeks, heh.
Go Vols!