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

Sports bettors are never afraid to look to the heavens for help.

Whether it be a quick prayer during crunch time or a promise that you’ll go to church on Sunday if you get the cover, bettors have tried every trick in the good book to get to the window.

But this is a new one.

Apparently, sports bettors around the country are betting that the newly elected pope will bring good luck to his alma mater.

According to a report from Ben Fawkes of Yahoo! Sports, money came pouring in on Villanova to win the 2025-26 national championship in the 24 hours after the Papal Conclave elected Robert Francis Prevost to become the next pope.

Pope Leo XIV makes his first address to the College of Cardinals at the Synod Hall on May 10, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Getty Images

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

That was enough of a sign for the betting public, who wasted no time getting down on Villanova to cut down the nets in 11 months.

Pope Leo XIV graduated from Villanova in 1977. REUTERS

According to the report, Villanova accounted for less than 1 percent of all bets to win the 2025-26 national championship at BetMGM. In the ensuing 24 hours, that number jumped up to 22 percent.

Villanova is 80/1 to win the title at BetMGM. 

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It remains to be seen if bettors have been bold enough to back Prevost’s favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox, in the same fashion. 

Footage has emerged of the future pope in the stands at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, which the White Sox eventually won in a four-game sweep over the Houston Astros.

Chicago is 11-28 on the season and is 500/1 to win the 2025 World Series at BetMGM.

Move over, Mike Francesa, there is a new sports pope in town.