Suspension could be part of larger action from sign-stealing scandal
The first domino fell in the Big Ten’s investigation of the University of Michigan and head coach Jim Harbaugh for illegal sign-stealing. The complex operation, seemingly executed by recently-fired staffer Connor Stalions, is still under scrutiny from the conference and the NCAA, but Harbaugh was suspended from coaching on the sideline for Michigan’s final three regular season games. Those games are this weekend’s matchup against Penn State, next weekend’s game against Maryland, and the November 25 game against Ohio State.
Future discipline could still be coming, but Michigan seemed ready to fight a legal battle over any sanctions or penalties levied against the program and that could also take place very soon.
Betting impact of Harbaugh suspension
The betting impact of the Harbaugh suspension was virtually non-existent. Some sportsbooks, including DraftKings, moved from Michigan -4.5 to Michigan -4 for Saturday’s clash in Happy Valley. Most sportsbooks didn’t move at all. The total shifted slightly up or down depending on the book, but the penalty imposed by the Big Ten seems to have zero impact on Michigan’s odds.
That is also true of Michigan’s title odds, as the Wolverines remained the +220 favorite at DraftKings to win the National Championship, along with staying at -120 to win the Big Ten.