Vegas: Harbaugh The Favorite to Replace Hoke

By all accounts, Jim Harbaugh is at the top of Michigan's list to replace Brady Hoke.

Great news for Michigan? Las Vegas really likes the Wolverines' odds of hiring him.

This morning, Bovada Sportsbook released its odds on who will replace Hoke, who was dismissed yesterday after a four-year tenure in Ann Arbor, as Michigan's head football coach, and the current San Francisco 49ers head coach is at the top of the list.

Harbaugh is the favorite to become Michigan's next football coach with 2:1 odds. The other candidates on Bovada's list are LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles (5:2), Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones (7:2), Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy (7:2), and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano (9:2).

Harbaugh would be considered a home-run hire for Michigan. The former Michigan quarterback has experienced amazing success during his head coaching career. In the college ranks, he led the San Diego Toreros to consecutive 11-1 seasons before he transformed a struggling, academic-focused Stanford program into a BCS championship contender in just four seasons. Then, in the past three seasons in the NFL, he has coached the San Francisco 49ers to three consecutive appearances in the NFC Championship Game, including one trip to the Super Bowl.

This season, there have been reports of a falling out between Harbaugh and the 49ers and that it is likely he will be coaching elsewhere next season. Whether that is in the NFL or back in college is unknown.

Now, it's important to remember that Vegas odds aren't predictive. Vegas sportsbooks set odds that they think will be most profitable to the house. So, just because Harbaugh has 2:1 odds to become Michigan's head coach at Bovada does not necessarily mean Bovada thinks there's a 2:1 chance that Harbaugh will be Michigan's next head coach.

But it's certainly a great sign that Harbaugh's at the top of the list.

Stay tuned to Maize n Brew for more updates on Michigan's coaching search.