Gambling odds on Tennessee's next football coach

The University of Tennessee is in the early stages of its search for a new head football coach—the fifth coaching search for the program since 2008, sadly—and Vols fans are dreaming big dreams for the hire, names like Jon Gruden or Peyton Manning, or even a second go-around with Lane Kiffin.

But in the real world where real people live, we all know the Vols will settle for a hire from a lower tier of names because none of the three aforementioned fantasy candidates, or anyone like them, are touching Tennessee’s mess.

So who are the realistic candidates? According to the gambling odds over at BetOnline.ag, current interim head coach and UT alum Kevin Steele is the overall favorite, but recently-terminated Gus Malzahn is a close second. The names get bigger as the odds get longer:

Next Tennessee Volunteers Head Coach (via BetOnline.ag)

Kevin Steele +250
Guz Malzahn +300
Billy Napier +400
Bill O’Brien +450
Jamey Chadwell +500
Hugh Freeze +600
Bill Clark +650
Luke Fickel +700
Doug Marrone +750
Jim Caldwell +800
Tom Herman +900
Lane Kiffin +1000
Peyton Manning +3300
Jon Gruden +5000

Now let’s check in on The Rock on UT’s campus:

Clicked on the live feed of The Rock on Tennessee’s campus just in time to see this young lady giving a campus tour, having to explain to prospective students’ parents what exactly is going on… 🍔 💰 pic.twitter.com/pDPhVe9FSx

— Logan Booker (@LoganMBooker) January 20, 2021