Speculation has arisen regarding whether the Kansas City Chiefs have received preferential treatment from NFL officials, potentially impacting sports betting. Some, like former NFL star Rob Gronkowski, have voiced suspicions. However, Johnny Avello, director of sports operations at DraftKings, dismisses these claims.
While acknowledging that the Chiefs have benefited from some fortunate calls recently, Avello attributes this to natural fluctuations in game dynamics rather than intentional bias. He believes this trend will eventually shift. Avello does concede that the Chiefs' popularity, boosted by Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift, has increased betting activity, particularly proposition bets related to the team and Kelce himself. FanDuel has even introduced "Swift Specials," proposition bets themed around Swift's song titles.
Despite this increased interest, Avello maintains that no single team overshadows the game's overall appeal. The Chiefs remain 1.5-point favorites on DraftKings, a figure that has held steady since opening. Interestingly, Avello points out that 70% of the money and wagers are placed on the underdog Philadelphia Eagles. He suggests this might be due to bettors capitalizing on the plus-money odds offered for the Eagles, believing a one-point victory margin for the Chiefs is unlikely. While some bettors might be influenced by "Chiefs fatigue" to bet against them, Avello advises against this strategy. He emphasizes that sound betting decisions should be based on objective assessments of which team is more likely to win, rather than personal biases.
