I Bet You Think About Me: Swift a Focal Point in Super Bowl Prop Bets

Super Bowl prop bets have long been core to many fans’ enjoyment of the game. But the powerful entry of Taylor Swift, who is currently dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, into the NFL orbit and this year’s Super Bowl matchup have precipitated a big shift in this year’s prop bet market.

In addition to the traditional prop bets centered on statistics and game-specific outcomes, the Swift-themed prop bets beginning to surface include:

• Will Kelce propose to Swift at the game? 
• Will the Super Bowl MVP mention Swift in his acceptance speech? 
• Will Swift appear in Usher’s halftime show?
• Will Swift make it from Tokyo in time for the game? 

There is a major catch, though. Those Swift-oriented prop bets will not be available at many U.S. sportsbooks, as individual states that have legalized online sports betting typically require bets be tied in some way to an official on-field statistic or game outcome. Many of the initial Swift-themed prop bets that have gone live this week, such as a potential proposal from Kelce, originated from Canadian sportsbooks. 

Still, many American sportsbooks are still searching for ways to incorporate Swift in some fashion into their Super Bowl markets, such as comparing a player’s yardage to her age or number of Billboard chart hits. 

“We’re talking about what props we can make that are Taylor Swift-related,” Sunny Gupta, Tipico sportsbook manager, tells Front Office Sports. “We are trying to play into the Taylor Swift effect, because we expect more viewers than ever for this game with the Swifties tuned in, and hopefully that results in more handle.”