Pope Leo XIV’s impact on the college basketball betting market is real with Villanova wagers surging

Sports bettors are ne'er acrophobic to look to nan heavens for help.

Whether it beryllium a speedy dream during crunch clip aliases a committedness that you’ll spell to religion connected Sunday if you get nan cover, bettors person tried each instrumentality successful nan bully book to get to nan window.

But this is simply a caller one.

Apparently, sports bettors astir nan state are betting that nan recently elected pope will bring bully luck to his alma mater.

According to a study from Ben Fawkes of Yahoo Sports, money came pouring successful connected Villanova to triumph nan 2025-26 nationalist title successful nan 24 hours aft nan Papal Conclave elected Robert Francis Prevost to go nan adjacent pope.

Pope Leo XIV makes his first reside to nan College of Cardinals astatine nan Synod Hall connected May 10, 2025 successful Vatican City, Vatican. Getty Images

Before he became Pope Leo XIV, Prevost was a Villanova Wildcat, graduating successful 1977.

That was capable of a motion for nan betting public, who wasted nary clip getting down connected Villanova to trim down nan nets successful 11 months.

Pope Leo XIV graduated from Villanova successful 1977. REUTERS

According to nan report, Villanova accounted for little than 1 percent of each bets to triumph nan 2025-26 nationalist title astatine BetMGM.

In nan ensuing 24 hours, that number jumped up to 22 percent.

Villanova is 80/1 to triumph nan title astatine BetMGM. 

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It remains to beryllium seen if bettors person been bold capable to backmost Prevost’s favourite shot team, nan Chicago White Sox, successful nan aforesaid fashion. 

Footage has emerged of nan early pope successful nan stands astatine Game 1 of nan 2005 World Series, which nan White Sox yet won successful a four-game expanse complete nan Astros.

Chicago is 11-28 connected nan play and is 500/1 to triumph nan 2025 World Series astatine BetMGM.

Move over, Mike Francesa, location is simply a caller sports pope successful town.