Mark Dantonio resignation to have little effect on 2020 Michigan State futures odds

The college football head coaching carousel was thought to be over with National Signing Day on Wednesday, but on Tuesday Michigan State's Mark Dantonio announced he was stepping down. Very curious timing considering Signing Day is on tap, but some allegations about NCAA violations under Dantonio's watch just came out this week in a civil court case involving former football staffer Curtis Blackwell. Dantonio quit less than three weeks after receiving a $4.3 million bonus from Michigan State.

Dantonio is Michigan State's all-time winningest coach (114 victories), the program won three Big Ten titles under him and reached the College Football Playoff once, something rival Michigan can't say. However, the program had grown stagnant, especially on the offensive side of the ball (Dantonio is a defensive guy), the past two seasons with matching 7-6 records.

Don't expect much change at the various sportsbooks on Michigan State 2020 college football futures odds. The Spartans weren't a realistic national championship contender at +15000 at FanDuel and are +3000 to win the Big Ten title at PointsBet.

"No immediate moves as a result of Dantonio news, but the trickledown effect might cause some slight tweaks," PointsBet director of communications Patrick Eichner said. "Nothing major, though. If a bunch of projected, big-name recruits drop out [on Signing Day] as a result of this, could have a slight impact.  Also if they don't get a solid coach to fill his shoes, could have a slight impact as well."

SportsLine oddsmakers list Cincinnati's Luke Fickell as the -150 favorite to replace Dantonio. Fickell led the Bearcats to an 11-3 mark this past season. Fickell, like Dantonio, comes from the Jim Tressel coaching tree. Dantonio also came to Michigan State from Cincinnati.

University of Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi is next at +300; he's a former defensive coordinator under Dantonio at Michigan State. Current MSU defensive coordinator Mike Tressel is the interim head coach and is +400. If neither Fickell nor Narduzzi wants the job, he could be a good fall-back candidate. Eastern Michigan's Chris Creighton (+800) and Central Michigan's Jim McElwain (+1000) both would jump at the opportunity.

College football win totals won't be out for several weeks. Michigan State opens the season Sept. 5 at home vs. Northwestern.