Now that Cutty Sark has been fired for yet another shitfaced appearance at a team function (this time it was Sunday practice) Bovada.com has released their odds for his replacement. With USC off the Reggie Bush sanctions, a full 85 scholarships available, this should be a highly sought after job for a blue blood program full of 5 star talent.
Let's take a look at Bovada's odds for Sarkisian's replacement. Remember Cutty Sark was making $4.5 million per year. Money will not be an issue in their search.
Kyle Whittingham +350 - The current Utah Utes coach has been at his job for over a decade now since replacing Urban Meyer. He's compiled a 90-43 including a stellar 8-1 bowl record which included an undefeated 2008 season with an impressive win over Nick Saban and Alabama. He's a drama free coach. In other words he's not going to be downing bottles of Patron and hitting on the booster's daughters.
Chip Kelly +600 - If I'm USC I back up the Brinks truck full of Beats by Dre money and give Chip an offer he can't refuse. Kelly would destroy the Pac 12 with the roster USC already has but he does have some Oregon NCAA regulation issues hanging over his head. Chip should be the first and only choice for AD Pat Haden.
Brian Harsin +600 - The Boise State head coach is one of the top under 40 guys in the college football landscape. He seems like a great fit in Boise and I'm not sure how he would fit in culturally with USC and all the bright lights of Hollywood. Harsin went 12-2 including a Fiesta Bowl victory in his only season at Boise State after replacing Chris Peterson.
Tom Herman +700 - The current Houston Cougars head coach is in his first season after an impressive assistant coaching resume which included a Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach for his work last season with Ohio State. Herman has a tremendous offensive mind and is the best underdog pick here.
Justin Fuente +700 - The Memphis Tigers head coach is another young, up and coming coach who has led his team to an undefeated season so far. He's got more experience than Herman and Harsin but his overall record isn't as superlative only because of Memphis's lack of facilities and tradition.
Clay Helton +800 - He's currently the interim head coach as well as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at USC. He did coach USC to a bowl game victory in 2013 but I don't think he's a serious candidate for Haden who should be moving away from the Sark-Kiffin-Carroll coaching tree.
Jack Del Rio +800 - The Oakland Raiders head coach is an USC alum but he's got no college coaching experience. I would put his odds of getting the job at about 2%. Del Rio is a NFL guy for a reason.
Chris Peterson +900 - 0.0% chance he leaves Washington right now for USC. He's not a culture fit and he's already declined the job in the past.
Brian Kelly +900 - 0.0% chance here too with Brian Kelly. If Kelly goes anywhere it's the NFL for a head coaching job.
Kevin Sumlin +1100 - Sumlin would be a tremendous hire but I think he's very comfortable at College Station.
Gary Patterson +1100 - It seems like every year his name is brought up and for good reason, he's a helluva coach. But I don't think he's an USC fit. He seems to be a TCU lifer and he wasn't interested in the Texas job when it was open.
Mark Dantonio +1500 - The only place I could see him going is back to his alma mater in South Carolina now that Head Ball Coach is retired. Dantonio makes top 3 head coaching money and in East Lansing he's basically a God.