Given the notion that Jimbo is an offensive genius, a recruiting genius, and both Chavis and Elko were highly respected DCs before coming to Texas A&M, well...being barely 4-3 even if all three losses were to pretty good top 10 teams (at least after Auburn curb-stomped the same team that "played up" to us at JerryWorld) is not surprisingly not fun.
The best upside is a slightly unlikely 10-win season. The worst downside is probably a 5 or 6 win campaign. UTSA, Mississippi State, and Carolina remain our best bets for wins in roughly that order.
The lack of real bright spots is a bit troubling. The complete lack of a running back that can go downhill is probably the biggest issue that prevents dominating opponents. The Time of Possession last night once again fit Jimbo's strategy for keeping our defense protected with our 34:07 to their 25:53 or just over eight minutes more time controlling the ball. The third down efficiency for both teams was terrible (3-13 us, 4-16 them) and it made both teams look bad offensively which usually means the defenses weren't as bad as they might have seemed. And to a great extent the push on turnovers confirmed it was a good defensive effort that dominated the evening by both.
If our signature is a top 10 defense as we close out the year (32 total defense, 40 scoring defense currently), we should see scrappy, low-scoring affairs with modest offensive efforts by both teams. A traditional SEC contest. UTSA likely will be a looser, faster game offensively assuming we dominate the line on offense and defense.
Given all that and just a smidge of offensive progress, we could be in a good place by the bowl game. Particularly if LSU beats Bama and we beat LSU. Is it likely? Seems a little suspect at the moment.