Williams’ retirement chills Miami’s hopes

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 | 9:30 a.m.

Jeff Haney

In this space a week ago, Las Vegas handicapper Patrick Bartucci recommended betting the Miami Dolphins to win under 9 1/2 games this season.

A couple of days later, Dolphins running back Ricky Williams stunned the team by announcing his retirement at age 27.

"My Miami under bet looks a lot better," Bartucci said. Williams' retirement "is a direct reflection on the general lackluster (direction) of the Miami Dolphins organization."

While bettors who got down on Miami "under" before Williams' announcement have to like their position even more this week, those who waited face a noticeably different set of numbers on the betting board.

Before Williams' retirement, the line on the Dolphins was 9 or 9 1/2 regular-season wins in Las Vegas sports books; it's now 8, according to odds at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The season-wins line on the New England Patriots, Miami's division rivals, was also affected. It had been 10 1/2 wins shaded toward the "under" (minus 130); it's now 10 1/2 solid (minus 115 each way).

In the adjusted division futures, the odds on the Dolphins to win the AFC East are now 4-1, and the favored Patriots are now a 5-9 shot.

"I'll say it again," Bartucci said. "The Dolphins (would be) best served by the termination of head coach Dave Wannstedt ASAP."

Handicapper conference

Several Las Vegas-area residents are scheduled to make presentations at a sports handicappers' convention sponsored by the offshore sports book BoDog on Thursday and Friday at Mandalay Bay.

Buzz Daly, of the publication "Player's Choice," and TV football prognosticator Wayne Root are scheduled to speak Thursday at the industry gathering.

Friday's featured speaker is football Hall of Famer Joe Montana.