Penn State’s hopes for a national title are officially gone, probably to the consternation of many Pennsylvania sports betting customers. Much of that can be largely attributed to their poor offensive performances against No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan, two powerhouse programs expected to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Following their loss last week at home against the Wolverines – in which Jim Harbaugh was not coaching Michigan – head coach James Franklin relieved Mike Yurcich of offensive coordinator duties. This move comes after three seasons in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions managed only 15 points against Michigan and 12 against Ohio State in a loss on Oct. 21. In both games the PSU defense held high-powered opposition to 24 or fewer points.
For this week’s conference game at home against Rutgers (noon Eastern) the Nittany Lions are a 20.5-point favorite at the ESPN BET Pennsylvania Sportsbook.
To reclaim a top-10 ranking and build the confidence to position themselves as contenders for honors next season – including a possible spot in what will be the first 12-team College Football Playoff – the Nittany Lions must find the right coordinator to maximize the potential of sophomore quarterback Drew Allar.
As Ja’Juan Seider takes over as the interim replacement for Yurcich, his job security is not guaranteed. Penn State goes into its game against the Scarlet Knights in Happy Valley with the No. 71 total offense among 130 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. PennStakes.com, your home for the best PA sportsbook promo codes, developed these hypothetical odds on who will be the permanent replacement for Yurcich.
Penn State Next Offensive Coordinator Odds
Ja’Juan Seider’s Job is No Guarantee
A former quarterback turned running-back coach, Seider was selected to co-lead offensive duties for the Nittany Lions and is currently our favorite to secure the full-time position at +500 odds with a 16.7% likelihood.
However, three other candidates are following him right along to replace Yurcich on a full-time basis, and all are deadlocked sharing the same odds, according to our experts.
Outside Candidates For Penn State Job
There are three coaches, all currently offensive coordinators at other schools, who come right behind Seider on our list of likely candidates to replace Yurcich. Penn State entered the season with +1500 odds at BetMGM Pennsylvania Sportsbook to win the national title but have moved back to +8000 with no chance to win the Big Ten East Division.
Colorado’s Sean Lewis, who was demoted from play-calling duties mid-season and replaced by former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur, has a 12.5% chance with +700 odds to join James Franklin’s staff. Tied with him on our list is James Madison OC Mike Shanahan and UNLV OC Brennan Marion. Shanahan (not related to former NFL coach Mike Shanahan) has orchestrated the Dukes’ offense to a No. 18 national ranking and a 10-0 record in their second year as an FBS program. At UNLV – a +350 pick to win the Mountain West with Caesars Pennsylvania Sportsbook coming off of a 5-7 season in 2022 – the 36-year-old Marion is a rising coach who is on the radar for many FBS programs.
Virginia Tech OC Tyler Bowen and Akron head coach Joe Moorhead complete this list, tied with +1000 odds or a 9.1% likelihood. Bowen’s old ties with Franklin as a position coach from 2018-19 can be a factor to return to State College. Moorhead is 4-19 in his second season with the Zips after he compiled a 14-12 record in two years at Mississippi State’s head coach from 2018-19.
For anybody else not named on this list, we give odds of +275, or a 26.7% likelihood, which is the favorite. For the latest and best news as we head into bowl season, or for information on Pennsylvania online casinos, keep tabs with PennStakes.com.
