BY ALL ODDS, DREAMS OF $30 MILLION JACKPOT SWEEPING SOUTHLAND.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

Lotto fever is rising like the mercury in San Fernando Valley thermometers as players come off the sidelines to join regular ticket buyers and feed a frenzy sparked by the jackpot that will top $30 million in tonight's Super Lotto drawing.

``Everyone thinks it's their turn, so you spend a dollar or two,'' said Shirley Cook of Woodland Hills, who purchased three tickets Tuesday at a supermarket.

Lured by the rising jackpot, Loren Grey stopped into a convenience store near his Woodland Hills home to buy five tickets.

``I don't normally play. Usually, it has to be $12 million or better for me,'' said the retiree, who has won nearly $100 in the Super Lotto four times and figures he just might win big one of these days. ``I know the odds are millions to one against you, but maybe lightning will strike.''

The odds, in fact, are 18 million to one. That is the number of potential six-number combinations using the numbers 1 through 51 available in the Super Lotto game the California Lottery has used since 1991, said Norma Minas, the lottery's public information director.

There were no winners in Saturday's Super Lotto, worth $21 million. Ticket sales have pushed today's jackpot to $30 million, Minas said.

``This officially puts California in lotto fever. It pretty much generates excitement. The pace picks up,'' she said. ``More people helps bring the pot up.''

Karim Mohammadi purchased five tickets during a break from his work as a mechanic Tuesday.

``I bought more tickets this week because I'd like to win,'' said the Thousand Oaks resident.

Asked what he would do with $30 million in lottery winnings, Mohammadi shrugged and said he wouldn't stop working. ``I would buy a business. I would want to buy a beautiful house.''

If the ticket Karen Hall purchased at a supermarket Tuesday is the big winner, the Woodland Hills woman has a list of needs that would be quickly filled.

``I would move my mother out here from Dallas and maybe buy a little bit bigger house,'' she said. ``I would definitely travel. I'm trying to go to Europe this summer, so that would cinch it.''

With more players, however, the odds are greater for multiple winners who would share the jackpot.

Today's jackpot is the largest since $45 million was won in November. If there is no winner, Saturday's jackpot is expected to reach near $50 million.

The largest single winning ticket in state lottery history brought $51 million, Minas said.

The record winning total was $118.8 million shared by 54 people holding 10 winning tickets, she said.

Drawings are televised statewide at 7:58 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Minas said KCAL-TV (Channel 9) carries the show in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.