It seems that sports bettors are looking to the divine for a bit of luck.
Whether it’s a quick prayer in a nail-biting moment or a promise to attend church if their team covers the spread, bettors often try various tactics. However, this is something new.
A surprising trend has emerged: gamblers around the country are wagering that the newly appointed Pope will bring good fortune to his alma mater.
A report indicated that Villanova gained traction in betting markets after Robert Francis Prevost became Pope. In fact, just 24 hours after the announcement, wagering on the Wildcats to win the 2025-26 National Championship spiked.
Before taking on the papal name of Leo XIV, Prevost graduated from Villanova in 1977, which seems to have sparked an interest among bettors. They flocked to wager on Villanova, believing they might cut down the nets soon.
Evidently, Villanova’s odds were not great, initially accounting for less than one percent of all bets at BetMGM. Astonishingly, in the next day, this figure surged to about 22%.
Villanova’s odds sat at 80/1 with BetMGM at that time.
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It remains to be seen if bettors will take the leap with Prevost’s other favorite team, the Chicago White Sox. After all, footage of him was spotted at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.
Currently, the Chicago team is listed at 500/1 to win the World Series at BetMGM this season.
A new sports pope seems to have ignited quite the buzz.
