Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

The rout of Georgia two weeks ago made all the difference in the world in the way you view the rest of Tennessee’s schedule. The Vols will certainly have their hands full with Alabama this Saturday, but everything else is winnable. In fact, Tennessee’s likely to be favored in four of those games. The key is getting steady play from senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton the rest of the way. He doesn’t have to throw for four touchdowns in every game like he did against Georgia, but he does have to make the throws when they’re there and not turn the ball over. Look for All-America safety Eric Berry to make his presence felt these last six games, too. He’s still got a few big plays left in him before the season is over. A winning season looked like it might be a stretch after that loss to Auburn, but first-year coach Lane Kiffin has the Vols pointing in that direction.

Best-case scenario: Crompton saves his best football for the second half of the season, and the defense picks up where it left off against Georgia to carve out an 8-4 season and trip to the Outback Bowl.

Worst-case scenario: Crompton reverts to his September ways. The running game bogs down, and the Vols simply can’t score enough to be a factor. They lose four of their last six, including a loss to Kentucky for the first time since 1984, and suffer their second consecutive losing season.

Prediction: The Vols will be good enough on defense down the stretch to get to 7-5 and will head across the state to play in the Liberty Bowl.