The betting odds are shifting in Michigan’s coaching search, and Arizona State fans might want to go ahead and exhale a little bit. Kenny Dillingham is no longer the betting favorite to take the Wolverines’ job; that title now belongs to Washington’s Jedd Fisch.
Fisch has jumped out in front with 4/7 odds, or about a 64 percent chance to land the job, according to BetOnline. Dillingham’s now sitting second at 2/1, which is a 33 percent implied probability. That’s a decent gap, and it likely stems from Dillingham’s public comments about commitment to his current job.
This whole situation has felt weird from the jump. One minute, Dillingham’s name is all over Michigan message boards and betting markets. The next minute, he’s walking into Arizona State practice like nothing’s happening, and local reports say ASU’s working on a contract amendment to keep him long term. The only people more confused than Michigan fans might be the sportsbooks.
Still, when you’re in the Big 12, and a team like Michigan comes sniffing around your head coach, you pay attention. Dillingham’s been tied to big jobs before, but this one had a little more juice. The timing was awkward, the fit made some sense, and with the way ASU’s been trending, it wasn’t crazy to think a blue-blood might come calling.
But now with Fisch, a known job-hopper, jumping to the front of the odds, it feels like Dillingham might actually ride it out in Tempe. And that’s a big deal for Arizona State. The guy’s been a culture-changer since he got there. He’s recruiting well, building momentum, and has instituted a true culture in the program that hasn’t been there in years.
Instead, it’s looking more like Michigan’s likely pursuing Fisch, a solid choice in his own right, with a little more polish and a few more years under his belt. That lets Dillingham keep doing what he’s doing in the desert, and honestly, that’s the best outcome for everyone. Well, except Michigan.
