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
Maryland -3
UL Monroe + 13
Patriots -3
Cowboys + 5
(BB) Miami (Ohio) + 4.5
Record (points): 9-11 (9)
Best Bets: 2-2 (2)
CHUCK EDEL
Michigan-Indiana Over 59.5
USC -13
Arizona State + 13.5
Texas A&M-Alabama Under 50.5
(BB) Liberty-Massachusetts Under 47
Record (points): 14-6 (14)
Best Bets: 2-2 (2)
BRIAN EDWARDS
James Madison -10.5
Mississippi -17
Patriots -3
Lions-Patriots Over 45.5
(BB) North Carolina State -3
Record (points): 6-14 (6)
Best Bets: 3-1 (3)
CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA
Virginia + 3
Florida State + 3
Arizona + 13.5
Southern Mississippi + 7
(BB) Saints -5.5
Record (points): 14-6 (14)
Best Bets: 4-0 (4)
STEVE FEZZIK
Tulane -3
Dolphins -3
Chargers-Browns Under 47.5
Ravens -3
(BB) BYU + 4
Record (points): 11-8-1 (11.5)
Best Bets: 3-0-1 (3.5)
JOEY “TUNES” FORTUNA
Boise State -7.5
Akron-Ohio Under 59
Texas Tech-Oklahoma State Under 66.5
Tulsa-Navy Over 46.5
(BB) Clemson -20.5
Record (points): 8-12 (8)
Best Bets: 1-3 (1)
DOUG KEZIRIAN
Michigan-Indiana Over 59.5
Arkansas State + 11
Louisiana Tech -3
Oregon State -6
(BB) Oregon-Arizona Over 70.5
Record (points): 10-10 (10)
Best Bets: 2-2 (2)
MARC LAWRENCE
Kansas + 7
Iowa State + 1
UCLA + 3
Browns + 2.5
(BB) Commanders + 1.5
Record (points): 12-8 (12)
Best Bets: 4-0 (4)
RANDY MCKAY
Pittsburgh -14
Kansas + 7
Iowa + 3.5
Patriots -3
(BB) Bears + 7.5
Record (points): 10-9-1 (10.5)
Best Bets: 2-2 (2)
MIKE NORTH
LSU + 2.5
Giants + 8
Rams -5
Raiders + 7
(BB) Panthers + 6.5
Record (points): 8-11-1 (8.5)
Best Bets: 2-2 (2)
MIKE PALM
Duke -3.5
Illinois -3.5
Browns + 2.5
Cowboys-Rams Under 43
(BB) Tennessee -2.5
Record (points): 14-5-1 (14.5)
Best Bets: 4-0 (4)
ERIN RYNNING
Purdue-Maryland Over 59.5
Virginia Tech-Pittsburgh Under 42
Georgia Southern-Georgia State Over 66.5
Texas Tech-Oklahoma State Over 66.5
(BB) Dolphins-Jets Over 46
Record (points): 9-10-1 (9.5)
Best Bets: 0-3-1 (0.5)
DAN SALEY
Georgia Southern + 3
Kansas State -1
UCLA + 3.5
Browns + 2.5
(BB) Oregon State -6.5
Record (points): 9-10-1 (9.5)
Best Bets: 2-2 (2)
JAMES SALINAS
Kansas + 7
BYU + 4
Browns + 2.5
Cowboys-Rams Under 43
(BB) Dolphins -3
Record (points): 12-8 (12)
Best Bets: 1-3 (1)