Columnist Jeff Haney: Rebel games, NCAA futures hit the board

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 11:47 a.m.

Jeff Haney's sports betting column appears Wednesday. Reach him at 259-4041 or haney@lasvegassun.com

Beginning today, visitors to Las Vegas sports books will find a welcome addition to the betting menu: odds to win the 2001 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

It's the most exciting offshoot of the new rule -- which goes into effect today -- that allows the state's sports books to take action on games involving UNLV and Nevada-Reno teams.

It's also a wagering proposition that could very well surpass pro basketball, hockey and baseball futures in popularity, according to a prominent local bookmaker.

"Once it's up for the entire year, I could see it being No. 2, behind only betting on who's going to win the Super Bowl," said Jeff Sherman, sports book supervisor at the Regent Las Vegas.

"We were only able to post them a month ahead of (tournament) time, but I see it as a great betting opportunity. "

Like other local sports books, the Regent hung its numbers this morning. Oddsmakers at the Regent went with 49 teams plus a field bet, and plan to make adjustments to the board as the tournament approaches.

Sherman said it's likely bookmakers will put up even more individual teams for next year's tournament. Of course, that's contingent on college betting remaining legal in Nevada; a movement to outlaw it is alive and well on Capitol Hill.

"There are so many teams to choose from," Sherman said. "People can bet the school they went to, or the popular teams. ... Rather than the 30 or so choices you have in baseball or basketball, there can be more than 100."

Even among the 49 teams plus the field, there are plenty of intriguing wagering opportunities for value-seeking college basketball bettors.

Consider:

For chalk players, Duke is a 5-2 favorite at the Regent, followed by Stanford (4-1), Michigan State (5-1), North Carolina (7-1) and Arizona (8-1).

The Final Four takes place at the Metrodome in Minneapolis with the championship game scheduled for April 2.

Gamblers' first chance to bet a UNLV game comes Saturday when the Rebels host BYU. According to most sets of power ratings, the game figures to be about a pick 'em, with perhaps one team favored by one or two points.

The Rebels have not been money-makers for bettors playing them with offshore sports books or underground bookmakers -- their record against the point spread is around 5-9 in their 14 lined games (depending on exactly when and where the bet was made). The Rebels were 10-point underdogs offshore in their inspired victory Monday at Wyoming.

Sherman said he doesn't expect Las Vegas bettors to pay any extra attention to UNLV games.

"It's just another game," he said. "We won't be saying 'Whoa, look at all the money coming in on the UNLV game.' It's just another addition to the regular rotation."

Each Friday contestants submit five selections from Saturday's slate of games. Handouts detailing all the selections are available at 6 p.m. Friday in Stardust race and sports book.

"(The XFL betting action) went surprisingly well," Sherman said. "We outwrote both the Pro Bowl and the NHL All-Star game."

Sherman said he believes the two XFL games each Saturday will attract more betting action than the entire schedule of pro hockey games from the same day.

"It seems like there are two reactions to (the XFL): You're either disgusted by it or you love it," said Sherman, who attended the Outlaws' 19-0 victory over the New York/New Jersey Hitmen Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium. "I thought it was very entertaining. As far as betting, it's something to add to the mix. I hope it lasts."