One bold bettor is singing You Belong to Me at the top of his lungs to Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce. That’s because this person just placed a massive $25,000 wager on him to win Super Bowl MVP for a payout of $375,000. Kelce has the reputation as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and a proven track record in big games, yet this is still a bold decision.
Super Bowl LIX marks Kelce’s fifth Super Bowl appearance with the Chiefs. He has consistently delivered when the lights are the brightest with 31 receptions for 350 yards and two touchdowns across those four games. He’s one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ most reliable and explosive weapons, yet Kelce has never taken home an MVP award.
However, this bettor clearly thinks this is the year Kelce finally gets the recognition over quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kelce was great in the Chiefs Divisional Round game against the Houston Texans, dominating with seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. While he was quieter in the AFC Championship against Buffalo, hauling in just two catches for 19 yards, the Chiefs' offense is built around his ability to exploit mismatches and keep defenses guessing.
However, from a betting standpoint, a tight end is the only non-special-teams position to have never won MVP. For Kelce to make history, Mahomes would have to post underwhelming stats and Kelce would have to be the beneficiary of nearly everything the Chiefs do on offense.
There is also a lot of talk among casual bettors regarding voter fatigue – the thought that voters might give the award to Kelce because Mahomes has won the last three. I don’t think that’s as much of a factor as some do. However, there is something that could help Kelce’s case.
The way Super Bowl MVP voting works is the winner is chosen by a panel of 16 football writers and broadcasters. Those votes count for 80 percent of the vote tally. The other 20 percent come from fans voting electronically, which became a thing in 2001. With Kelce dating the most famous singer on the planet, he definitely has the public's (Swifties) backing.
At $25,000, the bet on Kelce is a high-risk, high-reward gamble. But if it pays off, taking home $375,000 isn’t a bad day at the office.
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