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

WEEK 10 SELECTIONS

BOBBY “BUCKETS” BRUBECK
Louisville +6.5
UL Monroe-Georgia State Over 59
Texas State-South Alabama Under 46.5
North Texas +6
(BB) Browns +3.5
Record (points): 26-19 (26)
Best Bets: 4-5 (4)

CHUCK EDEL
Indiana-Ohio State Over 61
South Carolina-Florida Over 59.5
Vanderbilt-Kentucky Under 47
Arizona-UCLA Over 76
(BB) Louisiana Tech-UTSA Over 68
Record (points): 29-16 (29)
Best Bets: 4-5 (4)

BRIAN EDWARDS
Mississippi +12
Seahawks +2.5
Bears -3
Titans -3
(BB) Texas A&M-Auburn Over 48
Record (points): 21-24 (21)
Best Bets: 5-4 (5)

CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA
Louisville +6.5
Arizona State +9
Arizona +20
Buccaneers -2.5
(BB) Texas Tech -4
Record (points): 26-19 (26)
Best Bets: 6-3 (6)

STEVE FEZZIK
Vanderbilt-Kentucky Under 47.5
Louisiana Tech-UTSA Over 68
Jaguars-Chiefs Over 50.5
Texans-Giants Over 40.5
(BB) Southern Mississippi +5
Record (points): 19-25-1 (19.5)
Best Bets: 5-3-1 (5.5)

JOEY “TUNES” FORTUNA
Central Florida-Tulane Over 54
Washington State -8
Giants -4.5
Raiders -4.5
(BB) Army-Troy Over 46
Record (points): 22-23 (22)
Best Bets: 4-5 (4)

DOUG KEZIRIAN
Navy +16
Utah -24
Auburn -1.5
Steelers +1.5
(BB) Boston College-NC State Over 41
Record (points): 28-17 (28)
Best Bets: 6-3 (6)

MARC LAWRENCE
Louisville +6.5
Washington +13
Browns +3.5
Packers +4
(BB) Cardinals +3
Record (points): 22-21-2 (23)
Best Bets: 5-4 (5)

RANDY MCKAY
Central Florida-Tulane Over 54
Mississippi +12
New Mexico +21.5
Chargers +7
(BB) Seahawks-Buccaneers Under 44.5
Record (points): 22-21-2 (23)
Best Bets: 6-3 (6)

X-MIKE NORTH (first eliminated)
Record (points): 16-26-3 (17.5)
Best Bets: 3-6 (3)

ERIN RYNNING
Nebraska-Michigan Under 49.5
Arizona State-Washington State Over 59.5
Mississippi +12
Broncos +3
(BB) Cowboys-Packers Over 44
Record (points): 19-25-1 (19.5)
Best Bets: 2-6-1 (2.5)

DAN SALEY
North Carolina State -18
Tulane -1
Baylor -3
Hawaii +11.5
(BB) North Texas +6
Record (points): 21-22-2 (22)
Best Bets: 4-5 (4)

JAMES SALINAS
Connecticut +13.5
Army-Troy Under 46
Broncos +3
Colts-Raiders Under 41.5
(BB) Steelers +1.5
Record (points): 27-15-3 (28.5)
Best Bets: 4-5 (4)

PAUL STONE
West Virginia +8.5
South Carolina +8.5
Texas Christian +7.5
Army-Troy Under 46
(BB) Florida State-Syracuse Under 50.5
Record (points): 23-21-1 (23.5)
Best Bets: 3-6 (3)

JEFF WHITELAW
Tulane -1
Arizona State-Washington State Under 59.5
Steelers +1.5
Commanders +11
(BB) Browns +3.5
Record (points): 24-19-2 (25)
Best Bets: 6-2-1 (6.5)

CRIS ZENIUK
Hawaii +11.5
Browns +3.5
Bills -3
49ers -7
(BB) Cowboys -4
Record (points): 21-23-1 (21.5)
Best Bets: 3-6 (3)

MIKE PALM
Illinois -6.5
Iowa State -1.5
Wisconsin pick
Seahawks +2.5
(BB) Colts-Raiders Under 41.5
Record (points): 26-17-2 (27)
Best Bets: 6-3 (6)

MATT YOUMANS
Arizona +20
Auburn -1.5
Hawaii +11.5
Buccaneers -2.5
(BB) Steelers +1.5
Record (points): 23-21-1 (23.5)
Best Bets: 6-3 (6)