Mary Tyler Moore did a voice over during the closing credits on the original air date, reminding the audience this was a work of fiction, but if the Vikings did win the next day, "remember, you heard it first at WJM".
This episode aired on January 11, 1975 - one day prior to Super Bowl IX (January 12, 1975). In reality, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6. In the show, Pittsburgh is one the two teams playing, but they lose by 12 points.
The small photograph in Mary's apartment, on the desk behind Lou (easily seen when he's sitting on the couch, and says 'they're only 12 points behind'), is a photo of Mary Tyler Moore's real son, Richard, who would sadly pass away - age 24, in 1980.
Lou's bookie, Al, is played by Tom Pedi, whose memorable gruff voice and personality was featured that same year in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), as Cal Dolowicz, the MTA train controller who walks down the track towards the hijacked train to tell them to get it moving
This episode takes place from September 12, 1974 to January 12, 1975.