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Jim Tomlin has nearly 30 years of experience in journalism, having worked at such publications as the Tampa Bay Times, FanRag, Saturdays Down South and Saturday Tradition. He is a contributing writer and editor for BetVirginia.com.
College Football Hot Seat: Odds For Next Head Coach Fired
- 👀Coaching turnover comes earlier and earlier each college football season. Who is on the hot seat already?
- 📈Below, a team of college football experts reveal our exclusive odds to be the next head coach fired this season.
- 🏈Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is the favorite to receive his walking papers, with FSU's Mike Norvell (above) close behind.
We’re getting close to the end of the 2024 college football season at Virginia sportsbooks, which means that now is the time that school officials take stock of their programs to see whether major changes are necessary.
Across the modern “Power Four,” such actions happen quicker and quicker each fall. This year’s cast of possible castoffs includes former ballyhooed head coaches such as Sam Pittman of Arkansas, Mike Norvell of Florida State and Hugh Freeze at Auburn. But one notable name has dropped off this list because he's staying for at least the 2025 season.
Entering Week 13 of the college football season, oddsmakers from FanDuel Sportsbook Virginia have Ohio State (+320), Oregon (+440), Georgia (+480) and Texas (+550) atop their College Football Playoff title odds board. But the coaches on our list don’t have that much good fortune in 2024. With that in mind, BetVirginia.com broke down which CFB head coach has the best hypothetical odds of being canned first.
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Next CFB Coach Fired Odds in 2024
Coach | Team | Odds | Percent Chance |
Sam Pittman | Arkansas | +250 | 28.6% |
Mike Norvell | Florida State | +450 | 18.2% |
Hugh Freeze | Auburn | +600 | 14.3% |
Lincoln Riley | USC | +800 | 11.1% |
Mike Locksley | Maryland | +800 | 11.1% |
Mark Stoops | Kentucky | +1200 | 7.7% |
Neal Brown | West Virginia | +1200 | 7.7% |
The Field | - | +1000 | 9.1% |
Only includes the Power 4 conferences.
Odds provided by BetVirginia.com and not available at Virginia betting apps.
Which CFB Coach Will Get Fired Next?
Dave Aranda of Baylor is no longer on our list after the school announced over the weekend that he's returning next season. Aranda was on the hot seat for much of this season after the Bears went 3-9 in 2023, and a 2-4 start this season didn't help. But the Bears have gone on a four-game winning streak, including Saturday's 49-35 victory at West Virginia, to become bowl eligible. As of Tuesday, Caesars Virginia Sportsbook has Baylor (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) as a 7.5-point favorite for Saturday's game at Houston.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman remains the leader on our board at +250 odds. The Razorbacks (5-5 overall, 3-4 SEC) have lost consecutive games, including Saturday's 20-10 defeat against old Southwest Conference rival Texas. Arkansas can become bowl eligible with one more win, but that will probably have to come this weekend against Louisiana Tech (4 p.m. Eastern on Saturday) because the Nov. 30 closer at Missouri will be a very tough task for the Razorbacks.
The oddsmakers at bet365 Virginia Sportsbook list the Razorbacks as a 22-point favorite against the visiting Bulldogs (4-6, 3-4 Conference USA).
Mike Norvell (second on our board at +450 odds) led Florida State to a 13-0 regular season and an ACC championship last year, but has seen the Seminoles fall into the gridiron abyss this fall. The Seminoles are coming off a bye and face FCS foe Charleston Southern on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) before closing out this dreadful season on Nov. 30 at home against rival Florida.
A name on the rise (and not in a good way) is Auburn coach Hugh Freeze. He's now at +600 odds, third on our list, with the Tigers (4-6, 1-5 SEC) having very little chance at going to a bowl this season. Auburn is a 2.5-point underdog at Caesars for Saturday's home game against No. 15 Texas A&M, and the Tigers will be a big underdog for the finale at archrival Alabama as well.
Stay with BetVirginia.com for the best Virginia sportsbook promo codes all season.
Christopher Boan contributed to this report.
USA Today photo by Melina Myers
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