Jim Harbaugh has struggled to live up to the hype as a developer of quarterbacks and offensive wiz. There's no doubt about that.
We can add another notch to Harbaugh's big-game losses belt after Week 1, when Michigan lost its 17th straight road game against a ranked opponent, a setting they haven't won in since 2006. This time it was to Notre Dame.
Now, you can bet on Harbaugh not being a part of the program in 2019, in one of many Week 1 overreactions.
Here are the odds. Harbaugh still being Michigan's coach is a 1-2 favorite, meaning you'd have to wager $20 to win $10.
What will Jim Harbaugh's job be in 2019?
Let's not give this one a whole lot of life. It's going to take a lot for Michigan to move on from its prodigal son. It's going to take even more to push him out of the city he grew up in, Ann Arbor.
For those not from around A2, Harbaugh is this program's ultimate hire. His dad coached at Michigan, Harbaugh played quarterback for the Wolverines, he had undeniable success in the NFL and he started off 20-4 as head coach.
He's carried a lot of hype, created a lot of noise and garnished plenty of criticism for not following up on that with big wins.
But none of that will lead to him being canned, nor wanting to leave a place where he calls all the shots. Plus, aside from maybe Braylon Edwards, no one's got a big enough issue with him to stop it.
Why didn't it work for Harbaugh in San Francisco?
Ownership didn't like how much control he had. The success was there. Three trips to the NFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl appearance make that clear. Harbaugh likes running his own show, and that wasn't going to be the case anymore in San Francisco.
Squash that narrative that he "comes and goes." He was pushed out by the 49ers, and his career wasn't ever at its final destination until he got back to where he always wanted to be: Michigan.
Not only is this an emotional fit for Harbaugh, it's a place that gives him Thor's Hammer. He can do anything he wants in Ann Arbor. He can take his players to Rome, then France, and next, South Africa. He can keep reporters out of practice, limit his press conferences and discontinue Michigan Media Day.
He's got the keys to the city, and there's a slim-to-none chance that Michigan's athletic department even considers moving on from Harbaugh after four seasons.
Unless this team collapses to below six wins or finds its way into a scandal, Harbaugh will no doubt be Michigan's head coach in 2019. Even then, there's not a big chance he goes anywhere.
Consider this prop just one of many Week 1 overreactions.
