Pat Haden Gets Vote of Confidence, Will Hire Next USC Football Coach

Pat Haden Gets Vote of Confidence, Will Hire Next USC Football Coach by Alicia de Artola

Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is the favorite to become the next head coach of USC football, according to Bovada’s odds for the hiring.

RELATED: 10 Candidate To Replace Steve Sarkisian As USC Head Coach

Whittingham has 7/2 odds and has been one of the most suggested names since Steve Sarkisian was officially fired from his post after it was determined on Sunday that he was not fit to work.

Whittingham’s Utah is currently undefeated and ranked No. 4 in the nation. Since taking over the head coaching job at Utah in 2004, he has led the Utes to a 90-43 record. His record in the Pac-12 is less stellar, but in the competitive Pac-12 South Whittingham’s teams have never been a pushover.

Behind him the runners up at 6/1 are Brian Harsin, who is the head coach at Boise State, and Chip Kelly, the former Oregon head coach currently employed by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Harsin had a successful first season with the Broncos but second-best odds may raise some eyesbrows. There is no shock with regard to Chip Kelly’s position as rumors swirled about his potential arrival in Los Angeles even before Sarkisian was removed.

Up-and-comers Justin Fuente of Memphis and Tom Herman of Houston have odds of 7/1. Fuente has turned the struggling Memphis program around since making the lead as a TCU assistant. Herman helped Urban Meyer win a championship at Ohio State before taking over the Cougars, who are undefeated under him in his first season.

At 8/1 are Jack Del Rio, who is the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, and current USC interim Clay Helton.

Surprisingly, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly made the cut at 9/1 as did Washington head coach Chris Petersen.

Rounding up the longshots are TCU’s Gary Patterson and Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin at 11/1 and Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio at 15/1.

Coaches who are presumably in the running but were not given odds to get the job by Bovada are ASU’s Todd Graham and Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez.