Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is the favorite to be the next Florida coach at 4/1. according to @BovadaLV
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) November 17, 2014
Who else has odds right now?
Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain is next in line behind Gundy at 9/2. The coach of the Rams has shown an ability to build a strong team from scratch in the Mountain West Conference and his coaching pedigree is well respected out of the Nick Saban coaching tree. If McElwain is not the head coach at Florida in 2015, he may very well be at another program from a power conference.
Stoops and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen share 11/2 odds, followed by Rich Rodriguez (7/1), Mike Shanahan (7/1), Steve Spurrier (8/1), Hugh Freeze (8/1), Gary Patterson (12/1) and Gus Malzahn (12/1). Mullen and Freeze would be interesting possibilities, but how often do coaches switch jobs within the conference? It is not impossible, but it is somewhat rare. the same might be said of Malzahn at Auburn.
Rodriguez seems like a trendy pick, but would he be ready to jump back in the fire that comes with the Florida job after his time in Michigan? He seems to be in a really good spot at Arizona. Patterson has built something at TCU and now that the Horned Frogs are in a power conference, Patterson has a chance to compete for national titles right where he is now. And Shanahan? The rumors are he would be willing to take on a college job, but is Florida the best fit for him to try that experiment? Should Florida even give that a thought? Probably not. And Spurrier? That sure would be fun and a fitting way for the Gator legend on the field and sideline to wrap up his career. Who knows, but I think we have seen the last of Spurrier’s visor on the Gators sideline.
So who are you placing a bet on, or are you like me and betting on the field at this point?