WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR THE COMMODORES

Who in the world predicted us to win five games this season? I did, but don't congratulate me — I'm hopelessly biased. My prediction was six, which even I thought was ridiculous. If I'd thought we had a chance to win six, I'd probably have predicted us to win eight.

Nobody, but nobody in the national media picked us to win three conference games either, and here we are after six games with three SEC and five total wins.

After the offensive debacle in Starkville, it's hard not to feel like we've run out of gas a little bit, especially with mighty Georgia next on the schedule. But even if we get overpowered in Athens like everybody thinks we will, we still have a great shot at a winning season and a bowl berth.

Here are some scenarios for the rest of the season:

Best bet: SEVEN WINS. We beat Duke in Nashville (is that game huge now or what?), beat either Kentucky in Lexington or Tennessee in Nashville and lose to Georgia in Athens, Florida in Nashville, and Wake Forest in Winston-Salem.

Also not a bad bet: EIGHT WINS. We beat Duke and win two out of three against Kentucky, Tennessee and Wake.

Not out of the realm of possibility, but pushing it: NINE WINS. We take care of business against Duke, Kentucky and Tennessee and steal one from either Georgia, Florida or Wake.

OK, this is unlikely: TEN WINS. We beat Duke, Kentucky, Tennessee and Wake and shock either Georgia or Florida.

Possible but not something we want to think about right now: SIX WINS. We beat only Duke or, worse yet, keep everybody on pins and needles deep into November before beating Tennessee or Wake Forest to become bowl eligible.

The nightmare: FIVE WINS. That's right, we don't win another game. Probably won't happen but if you've been a Commodore fan for more than a year you're not taking anything for granted.

Don't forget, we can't take anything for granted. If we stun Georgia and win between the hedges, then we've won six games and that's all. Remember how we weren't so worried about Mississippi State after beating Auburn? The same State team that held Auburn to one field goal?