Bucs: Oh, yeah, wanna bet?

Wagering options

Oh, yeah, wanna bet?

By JOHN SCHWARB, Times Staff Writer

Think this game is just about the Bucs and the Raiders? Last year, $71-million was legally wagered on the game in Nevada's sports books.

The betting options are much more varied than just the point spread, which opened Sunday with Oakland as a 31/2-point favorite.

Proposition (or "prop") bets also are offered on everything from first-quarter points to individual performances to, yes, the coin toss. Some of the more interesting props and their opening lines:

-- Oakland wins by 1-6 points: 5-2

-- Oakland wins by 37 or more points: 30-1

-- Tampa Bay wins by 1-6 points: 4-1

-- Tampa Bay wins by 37 or more points: 60-1

-- There are no more than 14 points scored in the game: 75-1

-- There are 43-49 points scored: 5-2

-- There are 78 or more points scored: 40-1

-- Tampa Bay scores exactly four points: 350-1 (the longest shot among numbers from 0 to 50 or more, except 1, available to bettors)

-- The first scoring play will be an Oakland touchdown pass: 3-1

-- The first scoring play will be a Tampa Bay safety: 50-1

First Buc to score a touchdown:

-- Mike Alstott: 6-1

-- Keyshawn Johnson: 7-1

-- Keenan McCardell: 10-1

-- Joe Jurevicius: 15-1

-- Ken Dilger: 15-1

-- Michael Pittman: 18-1

-- Rickey Dudley: 18-1

-- Brad Johnson: 22-1

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Other props available are "over/under" bets, in which a bettor must choose the over or under of a specific number. Some choices:

-- Combined rushing yards of Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman: 851/2

-- Gross yards passing by Rich Gannon: 2501/2

-- Gross yards passing by Brad Johnson: 2311/2

-- Receptions by Keyshawn Johnson: 5

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The most exotic props pit parts of the Super Bowl against other sports. Each matchup comes with odds, but the bettor's only job is to pick a side. Among the options at the Palms Casino:

-- Tampa Bay total points vs. NHL goals scored Sunday (three games)

-- Longest touchdown (yards) vs. Vancouver shots on goal against Phoenix

-- Tim Brown receiving yards vs. Phil Mickelson's fourth-round score at the Phoenix Open

-- Joe Jurevicius receptions vs. goals in Real Madrid-Athletic Bilbao Spanish League soccer game

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Favorites are 20-13-2 in Super Bowls (XVI, San Francisco vs. Cincinnati, was a pick 'em), including nine of the past 11.