On Friday nights in the fall for more than a decade, football bettors would crowd a small, smoky sportsbook on the Strip to see two handicappers go head to head in a $10,000 winner-take-all contest. The contestants’ names were lit up outside on the marquee, adding an element of prestige to being a part of the Stardust Invitational.
The contest concluded after the 2005 season — the Stardust closed on Nov. 1, 2006 and its two hotel towers were imploded in March 2007 — and it has been missed.
So it’s time to bring back memories of an old friend. In a tip of the cap to the Stardust Invitational, Circa owner Derek Stevens is putting up his money and putting his support behind a new VSIN-produced event, the Circa Friday Football Invitational.
The theme is the same, but the contest format is slightly different and improved. While there are still 16 handicappers in a bracket, all contestants are involved each week in a season-long competition, as opposed to the Stardust format that pitted only two handicappers a week in a head-to-head elimination duel. Stevens has boosted the prize money to $25,000.
The 16-handicapper field is officially set. Here are the contest details:
Sixteen handicappers compete — with no entry fee required — in a season-long contest with $25,000 in prizes awarded.
When: Friday, September 9 through Friday, January, 6, 2023 (18 weeks)
Where: VSIN studio at the Circa sportsbook
Contest plays: Five plays, college and NFL sides and totals (no props, team totals, first-half plays etc.) with one designated as the Best Bet (BB).
STANDINGS
BOBBY “BUCKETS” BRUBECK
TCU + 5.5
Arkansas + 17.5
Central Michigan + 7
Indiana-Nebraska Over 60.5
(BB) Oklahoma State-Baylor Over 55.5
Record (points): 7-8 (7)
Best Bets: 1-2 (1)
CHUCK EDEL
Boston College + 14
Georgia Southern-Coastal Carolina Over 65
Florida Atlantic-North Texas Over 67.5
Browns-Falcons Over 47
(BB) Buccaneers pick
Record (points): 12-3 (12)
Best Bets: 2-1 (2)
BRIAN EDWARDS
Baylor -2
Arkansas + 17.5
Texans + 5
Browns-Falcons Over 47
(BB) Kentucky + 7
Record (points): 5-10 (5)
Best Bets: 2-1 (2)
CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA
Purdue + 12
Iowa State -3
Michigan -10.5
49ers -1.5
(BB) Utah -10.5
Record (points): 10-5 (10)
Best Bets: 3-0 (3)
STEVE FEZZIK
Army -7.5
Texas Tech-Kansas State Under 57.5
Texas A&M-Mississippi State Under 46.5
Wyoming + 3
(BB) Vikings -3
Record (points): 11-4 (11)
Best Bets: 3-0 (3)
JOEY “TUNES” FORTUNA
Georgia Southern-Coastal Carolina Over 65
Cal-Washington State Under 53.5
Mississippi -6.5
UTEP-Charlotte Over 54.5
(BB) Texas A&M-Mississippi State Under 46.5
Record (points): 6-9 (6)
Best Bets: 1-2 (1)
DOUG KEZIRIAN
New Mexico State -14.5
Utah -10.5
Arkansas + 17.5
Georgia -29
(BB) LSU -8
Record (points): 9-6 (9)
Best Bets: 2-1 (2)
MARC LAWRENCE
Oklahoma State + 2
Iowa + 10.5
Cardinals + 1
Buccaneers pick
(BB) 49ers -1.5
Record (points): 9-6 (9)
Best Bets: 3-0 (3)
RANDY MCKAY
Florida Atlantic-North Texas Under 67.5
Vikings -3
Steelers -3
Patriots-Packers Under 40.5
(BB) Iowa + 10.5
Record (points): 10-5 (10)
Best Bets: 2-1 (2)
MIKE NORTH
Saints + 3
Browns -1
Patriots + 9
Buccaneers pick
(BB) Commanders + 3
Record (points): 7-8 (7)
Best Bets: 2-1 (2)
MIKE PALM
Penn State -25.5
Titans + 4
Bills -3
Cowboys -3
(BB) Purdue-Minnesota Under 52
Record (points): 11-4 (11)
Best Bets: 3-0 (3)
ERIN RYNNING
Georgia Southern-Coastal Carolina Over 65
Georgia State-Army Under 54
Indiana-Nebraska Under 60.5
Broncos-Raiders Over 45.5
(BB) Vikings -3
Record (points): 6-9 (6)
Best Bets: 0-3 (0)
DAN SALEY
Georgia Southern + 10
Army -8
Tulsa + 10
Wyoming + 3
(BB) Raiders -2.5
Record (points): 7-8 (7)
Best Bets: 1-2 (1)
JAMES SALINAS
UL Lafayette + 8.5
Titans + 4
Seahawks + 4
Buccaneers pick
(BB) Steelers -3
Record (points): 9-6 (9)
Best Bets: 1-2 (1)