How Jim Harbaugh Has Fared Among Big Ten Coaches In October

How Jim Harbaugh Has Fared Among Big Ten Coaches In October
Fact Checked by Jim Tomlin

The Michigan Wolverines opened their season perfectly, ranked second in the Associated Press poll entering this weekend. With the long-awaited return of their coach, Jim Harbaugh, Michigan has heightened its hopes of clinching a Big Ten title and the national championship, something Michigan sports betting customers will be sure to monitor.

A strong beginning as they enter October, a month that has historically favored Harbaugh, will only solidify their best opportunity to secure both, their most promising chance yet during the Harbaugh era. But where does the Wolverines leader rank among Big Ten coaches for October success? Here are the results:

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Big Ten Football Coaches October Records

Coach, School Oct. Record Winning Pct.
Ryan Day, Ohio State 13-0 1.000
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin 18-7 .720
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan 31-13 .705
PJ Fleck, Minnesota 23-15 .605
James Franklin, Penn State 24-18 .571
Bret Bielema, Illinois 30-24 .556
Matt Rhule, Nebraska 15-12 .556
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa 49-40 .551
Greg Schiano, Rutgers 25-28 .472
Tom Allen, Indiana 6-15 .286
Mike Locksley, Maryland 6-18 .250

The Wolverines currently hold odds of +150 at Caesars Michigan Sportsbook to win the Big Ten title, making them the odds-on favorite.

BetMichigan.com, using Sports-Reference.com, dove into the records of Big Ten coaches in that particular month. Coaches must have a minimum of three years of experience to qualify, with records at previous schools counting toward the total. So Michigan State interim coach Harlon Barnett is not included here.

Jim Harbaugh has not only proven to be good in October games, but excellent. The 59-year-old has led his college programs to a 31-13 record with a .705 winning percentage, during his stops at San Diego, Stanford and Michigan.

The Wolverines finish September with a game Saturday (3:30 Eastern) at Nebraska. BetMGM Michigan Sportsbook lists Michigan as a 17.5-point favorite.

Jim Harbaugh’s Strong Record In October

Harbaugh’s record in October ranks third among qualifying Big Ten head coaches, trailing only Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell. Day is the only head coach on this list with an unblemished record, going 13-0 during his five-year tenure with the Buckeyes. Fickell’s 18-7 record (a .720 winning percentage) closely follows; he is in his first year at Wisconsin following a successful stint at Cincinnati.

As Harbaugh aims to improve his October winning percentage, you can follow the Wolverines’ season with BetMichigan.com for updates, plus the Michigan sportsbook promo codes.

After facing Nebraska, Michigan has three games in October. The Wolverines travel to face unranked Minnesota on Oct. 7, then return home to play Indiana on Oct. 14. UM wraps up the month back on the road at archrival Michigan State on Oct. 21.

Michigan is considered a serious conference and national title contender, but has yet to deliver any favors to bettors nationwide. The Wolverines opened 0-3 against the spread before beating Rutgers 31-7 in a game where UM was favored by 24 (that’s a push, with all bets returned). Nevertheless, their defense remains steadfast, limiting their opponents to just 5.75 points per game, and will likely continue to shoulder the bulk of the workload.

Michigan is among the national title favorites at Michigan sportsbook apps. For the latest progress on Michigan’s championship odds, continue to keep tabs at BetMichigan.com.

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Author

Felix Veletanga

Felix Veletanga is an experienced reporter who has covered local news, politics, and sports in Northern New Jersey, and now lends his expertise to the Michigan sports betting market. He previously covered the Saint Peter’s men’s basketball team’s 2022 NCAA Cinderella run for HudPost. Felix specializes in combat fighting and soccer betting analysis with a focus on the Premier League.

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