Columnist Jeff Haney: Record lows are in the forecast for Tampa

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

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

When the initial betting lines were posted on Super Bowl XXXV, one number stood out like a crazy guy from Scotch Plains wearing blue and orange paint on his face.

It wasn't the point spread, which had the Ravens a small favorite over the Giants.

Rather, it was the over/under total.

Thirty-four points.

The 34 was universally heralded as the "lowest Super Bowl total ever" -- which is not quite true, although you do have to go all the way back to 1975 to find a lower one.

To put it in perspective, in '75 Chevy Chase was doing his President Ford bit, Physical Graffiti was released and Jimmy Hoffa disappeared (though most likely not into the bowels of the home stadium of the underdog in Super Bowl XXXV).

According to Peter Ruchman, general manager of the Gambler's Book Shop on South 11th St., the 1975 game between the Steelers and Vikings was the third consecutive Super Bowl in which the over/under total was 33 points.

Right before that mini-streak, the total in the 1972 game between the Cowboys and Dolphins went off at 34.

Ruchman, an expert on the history of sports betting, pointed out that all four of those games from 1972-75 ended up going under the total: Dallas beat Miami 24-3 in '72; Miami beat Washington 14-7 in '73; Miami beat Minnesota 24-7 in '74; and Pittsburgh beat Minnesota 16-6 in '75.

This week, early betting on the 2001 Super Bowl already has driven the total down to 33 points, and it's likely we'll see an unprecedented 32 1/2 -- or lower -- by kickoff on Jan. 28.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all if it goes down some more," said Nick Bogdanovich, sports book director at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino. "When you handicap the game, everything points to the under, no question.

"The Ravens have one of the best rushing defenses ever, and the Giants come in with a defense that's looking just as strong."

Bogdanovich, who opened the game Ravens minus 2 1/2 and has since moved the line to minus 3, is expecting heavy, perhaps record-breaking, betting action on the game.

The Super Bowl handle in Nevada has declined each year since 1998's record high of $77.3 million, although a big reason for the slump is the growing popularity of offshore sports books. Bettors in Nevada wagered $75.9 million on the 1999 Super Bowl and $71 million on last year's game.

Bogdanovich said he's not worried that both Super Bowl teams come from the Northeast, or that some fans perceive this year's matchup as dull.

"I see this shaping up as a hard-hitting, exciting game," Bogdanovich said. "Both teams are hot, and just the fact that it's close to a pick 'em is going to draw interest.

"I'm glad to see a matchup like this; it's something different. I think there's going to be plenty of betting on this game."

At the Rio hotel-casino, sports book director Roger Sims estimates his property will take about five six-figure bets on the Super Bowl this year. But he's not as optimistic when it comes to overall handle.

"It's not the best Super Bowl matchup in history, that's for sure," Sims said. "Usually one or both of the teams are high-scoring; with these teams there are no real scoring threats. It's much more of a defense-oriented matchup, which is not conducive to attracting (bettors)."

Sims also has Baltimore a 3-point favorite after opening the game Ravens minus 2. He does not expect to adjust the line to 3 1/2.

"I think 3 is the number," Sims said. "Most defensive gems are decided by a field goal; the question is which side it's going to be. Right now, the public says it's the Ravens."