Odds Favor Harbaugh Remaining Michigan’s Coach in 2020; Stanford’s David Shaw 3-1 Favorite as Replacement, Urban Meyer +700
- Odds out with a pair of props regarding Jim Harbaugh’s future as coach of the Michigan Wolverines
- One prop favors that he will return as coach for the 2020 season
- The second offers odds on candidates to replace Harbaugh, a list that includes former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer
Jim Harbaugh was supposed to do for Michigan what Urban Meyer did at Ohio State. He was going lead a football renaissance. He was a Michigan man through and through after all.
Harbaugh was a former Wolverines quarterback under Bo Schembechler. He’d coached the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl.
What could wrong – how about everything?
Five years into the Harbaugh plan, Michigan is in shambles. In Saturday’s embarrassing 35-14 loss at Wisconsin, the Wolverines looked more like a team in rebuilding mode, and not the Big Ten favorites and College Football Playoff contenders the Wolverines were touted as in August.
The sportsbooks are already speculating whether Harbaugh has run out of time to right the ship. Books are out with a pair of props regarding his future with the Wolverines.
One prop favors Harbaugh returning as Michigan coach next season. The second prop, though, offers odds on who might replace him on the Wolverines’ sideline.
Will Jim Harbaugh Be Michigan Coach For Week 1 Of 2020 NCAA Season?
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -140 |
| No | +100 |
*Odds taken on 09/23/19.
There were a number of shocking elements to Michigan’s loss at Wisconsin. The offense was out of sync. The Wolverines rushed for just 40 yards. The defense, such a pillar of their success last season when it was #2 in the nation, looks porous minus Devin Bush, Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary.
Most alarming of all was how unprepared the Wolverines were, even though they were coming off a bye week. That goes to coaching. Harbaugh acknowledged that his team was out-coached, outplayed and out-prepared.
Harbaugh’s Litany Of Failure
Overall, Harbaugh is 8-11 against ranked teams during his Michigan tenure. On the road, he’s 1-6. His Wolverines teams are 0-7 straight up against ranked teams as a road underdog.
Michigan under Jim Harbaugh:
~0-4 against Ohio State
~1-9 vs. top-10 opponents
~0-7 as an underdog
~1-6 on the road against ranked opponents
~Five losses by at least 21 points, including three of their last five games— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) September 21, 2019
Since the start of last season, Michigan is 0-3 against ranked teams on the road and has lost those three games by an average margin of 23 points. They’ve lost three straight bowl games as well.
In big games, the Wolverines don’t even compete. They are 4-11 against top-15 teams and 1-9 when facing top-10 schools.
Army came thiiiiiiiiiiiis close to pulling off the stunner and upsetting No. 7 Michigan at the Big House with a last-second 50-yard field goal. Instead, we head to overtime. pic.twitter.com/3xQH4SSJhl
— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) September 7, 2019
Remember, Michigan is a missed Army field goal away from being 1-2.
It could get much uglier. Michigan still must play against #18 Iowa, #13 Penn State, #7 Notre Dame and #6 Ohio State.
Harbaugh is 0-4 against the Buckeyes.
Do They Make Khaki Flak Jackets?
The man who became known for his khaki pants is under fire. Even the staunchest of Harbaugh apologists can no longer defend these dumpster fire efforts against the rest of college football’s elite.
On paper, from a distance and with very little scrutiny, Harbaugh’s record doesn’t look bad. His teams have gone 10-3 in three of his four seasons. Compared to his predecessors, Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez, he’s proven to be a significant step up.
Jim Harbaugh is the most overrated coach in all of college football. His teams don’t play with any energy and look like something from late 80’s early 90’s. #NCAAF
— ???????? ????? (@lt4kicks) September 21, 2019
Rodriguez went 3-9, 5-7 and 7-6 in three years. After an 11-2 mark in his first season, Hoke was a combined 20-18 over the next three.
But this is Michigan. Coaching there is like managing the New York Yankees. Bringing the team from bad to respectable isn’t enough. Titles are the only item that matters on the agenda.
Congratulations to Jim Harbaugh and Michigan. Things are looking up. The 21-point loss today to Wisconsin was a slight improvement over the 23-point loss to Ohio State in the last Big Ten outing. Might be time to extend Harbaugh’s contract.
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) September 21, 2019
Harbaugh won’t be compared to his predecessors, he’ll be measured against Lloyd Carr. Between 1995-2007, Carr went 122-40. His teams won won five Big Ten titles, shared the 1997 national championship and compiled a 122-40 record.
He’s a Cash Cow for Michigan
At $7.5 million a season, Harbaugh is the second-highest paid college football coach after Alabama’s Nick Saban. And there’s a reason for that.
It doesn’t show up on the field when it’s most needed. But it does fill the school’s coffers.
Might wanna keep an eye on Jim Harbaugh today!
Watch the @umichfootball coach for the ENTIRE game at @Badgersfootball on our #CoachCam https://t.co/vpcHSkWMFm— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 21, 2019
Harbaugh makes money for the school. Big money. Since his first season in charge, Michigan’s football revenues have increased from $97.1 million a season to $125 million. Michigan led NCAA football attendance every year between 2014-17. And the Wolverines draw eyeballs. The viewing audience for last year’s game against Ohio State was $13.2 million.
Harbaugh has turned Michigan football into a cash machine. As much as the fans might not like it, unless the Wolverines really go south this season, Harbaugh isn’t going anywhere.
Pick: Yes (-140).
Who Will Be Michigan Coach For Week 1 Of 2020 NCAA Season?
| Coach | Odds |
|---|---|
| David Shaw | +300 |
| Bronco Mendenhall | +400 |
| Kyle Whittingham | +400 |
| Dino Babers | +500 |
| Urban Meyer | +700 |
| Mike Gundy | +800 |
| Luke Fickell | +1000 |
Would Meyer Consider Michigan?
College football’s #1 free-agent coach, who would be more galled by the notion of Meyer as Michigan coach – Meyer or Wolverines fans?
Remember, Bo Schembechler left Woody Hayes’ staff with the Buckeyes to take over the Michigan program and become the school’s most famous coach.
But it’s really a moot point, because Harbaugh isn’t going anywhere.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
