Michigan's odds for the College Football Playoff National Championship and the Big Ten fell on Friday after a report that coach Jim Harbaugh will not be permitted to coach on the sideline for the remainder of the regular season as a result of a sign stealing scandal.
The scandal is centered around one Michigan staffer, Connor Stalions, who is alleged to have run a sign stealing operation by systemically recording future opponents' sidelines, which is prohibited by NCAA rules. Stalions had been suspended by the team with pay as the NCAA investigates its claims.
If the report stands firm, Harbaugh will miss this Saturday's game against Penn State, next week's game at Maryland and a massive contest vs. Ohio State the following week.
The announcement on Friday didn't alter Michigan's national championship odds at any of the four major sportsbooks: FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM or Caesars.
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The most palpable change came with the Big Ten marketplace, where Michigan maintained its position atop the odds board, but with its odds lengthening at FanDuel. The team had been -125 before the news but moved slightly to -120 favorites after the news.
In a corresponding move, Ohio State's odds shortened from +160 to +150 at FanDuel with no Harbaugh on the sideline for the big game.
Odds didn't change at any other major sportsbook. Big Ten odds are off the board at BetMGM.
Effectively, the winner of Ohio State vs. Michigan at the end of the month will decide the Big Ten. The winner of that game would play an easier foe — in the form of Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska or Minnesota — in the Big Ten Championship Game.
To make the College Football Playoff, Michigan were the third-best favorite at -180 at FanDuel, behind Florida State (-330) and Georgia (-210). Those odds, too, remain unchanged.
And Michigan's individual odds remain the same, too. The Wolverines are still -198, -4.5 favorites against Penn State this weekend at DraftKings.
For what it's worth, Harbaugh will still be around the program throughout the regular season — just barred from coaching on the sidelines, reports indicated.
