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Top 20 college football head coaches heading into 2017

By Nicholas Ian Allen

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26: (R-L) Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26: (R-L) Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Penn State head coach
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 03: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

19. James Franklin, Penn State Nittany Lions

  • Career Record: 49-30 (.620), six seasons
  • Record at Penn State: 25-15 (.625), three seasons
  • Championships and Awards: 2016 Big Ten Conference Championship, 2016 National Coach of the Year

One way to measure a head coach’s impact on Saturdays is to evaluate the performance of his team with the expectations set forth by Las Vegas odds makers. It’s not necessarily important to determine which coaches cover at the best rate. After all, while a close loss may be a good thing for those wagering on an underdog, but too many close losses are a bad thing for the job security of a head coach.

Instead, it’s important to see a head coach’s overall winning percentage in the games his team is supposed to win: when he is a favorite according to the odds makers. Also, how many upsets can he orchestrate? A good rule of thumb would be for a head coach to win every game as a favorite, and half the games as an underdog. James Franklin fit that profile perfectly in 2016.

Penn State overcame a 2-2 start last season to finish 11-3, winning the Big Ten and earning a spot in the Rose Bowl. The powers that be in State College were certainly impressed. Last week, Franklin agreed to a six-year, $34 million contract extension with Penn State. Oh, and let’s not forget the unthinkable feat Franklin accomplished in his first head coaching job: he led Vanderbilt to three bowl games and two Top 25 finishes in three seasons.

On a side note, curious as to whom else batted 1.000 as a favorite and won at least .500 of their games as an underdog in 2016? Paul Patrino at Idaho (5-0 as a favorite and 4-4 as a dog), and P.J. Fleck at Western Michigan (10-0 as a favorite and 1-1 as an underdog).