Odds to Be Michigan Head Coach in 2021 – Harbaugh Still Favored, Luke Fickell and Matt Campbell Top Candidates

• Odds have been released on who will be the head coach at Michigan next season
• Jim Harbaugh is 48-21 since joining the program but 0-5 against rival Ohio State
• See the odds below, along with a betting analysis and our best bet

To say Jim Harbaugh is on the hot seat at Michigan would be an understatement.

The Wolverines are 1-3 this season and there’s mounting speculation change could be coming. Despite the rumors, Harbaugh is still the favorite to be on the sidelines in Ann Arbor next year.

Odds to Be Michigan Head Coach in 2021

Odds from Nov. 20

Let’s take a look at this wager from two different angles. What are Harbaugh’s chances to keep his job? And who has the best shot at taking it from him if change does come prior to next season?

Harbaugh Continues to Struggle

Harbaugh is making $8.1-million this year and is the fourth highest-paid coach in college football. The three with higher salaries happen to be the last three national champions Nick Saban at Alabama, Dabo Swinney at Clemson, and Ed Orgeron as LSU.

Harbaugh’s success doesn’t come close to matching that trio. While his overall record is 48-21 at Michigan a closer look shines a light on the problem. He’s 37-5 against unranked teams but only 2-10 against opponents ranked inside the top 10.

“Quarterback guru” Jim Harbaugh 😬 pic.twitter.com/3kngHfh5J3

— BroBible (@BroBible) November 15, 2020

Harbaugh’s inability to be competitive against good opponents is most glaring when looking at his record against the Wolverines biggest rival. He has an 0-5 record against Ohio State and has lost the last two games by a combined 52 points. Could a sixth straight loss in the rivalry spell the end of his time at Michigan? It seems more likely than the odds might suggest.

Could Matt Campbell Be The Next Man For The Job?

The odds take a significant dive after the top four candidates. Let’s explore the three names after Harbaugh on the board. Luke Fickell has Cincinnati ranked inside the top 10 and has done an incredible job turning the program around. The issue with Fickell is he’s an Ohio State man to the core.

He played for the Buckeyes, he was the head coach for the season between Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer and stayed with the program as a defensive coordinator for years. It seems unlikely he’d switch allegiances and join Michigan. David Shaw is a great coach at Stanford, but what are the chances Michigan signs on for another coach from the Cardinal after Harbaugh’s failed tenure? Probably not very high.

If Michigan and Jim Harbaugh ultimately part ways, ESPN's David Pollack explains why Iowa State's Matt Campbell should be a top target for the Wolverines:https://t.co/WnQdtdaiQc pic.twitter.com/k2hv9TBsf6

— 247Sports (@247Sports) November 17, 2020

That leaves Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. The 40-year old has won the Big 12 coach of the year twice and previously won the MAC coach of the year as well. He was a candidate for the Ohio State job before the school decided to promote Ryan Day. Not to mention, he was even requested to interview for the New York Jets in the NFL. His overall record is 66-42, which is impressive considering his two stops have been Iowa State and Toledo.

He has a strong recruiting presence in the area and could provide a big boost to the program. An energetic young coach that has proven to be in high demand would be a great hire for the Wolverines. He may not be a “Michigan Man” like Harbaugh, but if he arrives on campus and wins football games that won’t matter.

The Pick: Matt Campbell (+750)