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).
WEEK 3 SELECTIONS
BOBBY “BUCKETS” BRUBECK
Miami (Ohio) 7.5
Arkansas 1.5
Bills-Dolphins Over 53
Cowboys 1
(BB) Falcons 1
Record (points): 4-6 (4)
Best Bets: 0-2 (0)
CHUCK EDEL
Indiana-Cincinnati Over 57
Arkansas State 5
Tulsa-Mississippi Over 65.5
Texans-Bears Under 39
(BB) TCU-SMU Over 70.5
Record (points): 9-1 (9)
Best Bets: 1-1 (1)
BRIAN EDWARDS
North Carolina -1.5
Clemson -7
Vanderbilt-Alabama Over 58.5
49ers -1.5
(BB) Arkansas 1.5
Record (points): 5-5 (5)
Best Bets: 2-0 (2)
CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA
Michigan State 3
Iowa -8.5
New Mexico State -4.5
Oklahoma -12
(BB) Texas A&M -1.5
Record (points): 7-3 (7)
Best Bets: 2-0 (2)
STEVE FEZZIK
Bowling Green-Mississippi State Over 52
TCU-SMU Over 70.5
Patriots 3
Panthers 3
(BB) Washington -13.5
Record (points): 7-3 (7)
Best Bets: 2-0 (2)
JOEY “TUNES” FORTUNA
Charlotte 23
Middle Tennessee 25.5
Louisiana Tech 13
Western Kentucky -31
(BB) Clemson -7
Record (points): 4-6 (4)
Best Bets: 1-1 (1)
DOUG KEZIRIAN
Boston College 17.5
New Mexico State -4.5
UL-Monroe 9
UNLV -3
(BB) James Madison 7
Record (points): 5-5 (5)
Best Bets: 1-1 (1)
MARC LAWRENCE
James Madison 7
Kansas State 12
Patriots 3
Packers pick
(BB) Colts 5.5
Record (points): 5-5 (5)
Best Bets: 2-0 (2)
RANDY MCKAY
Maryland 17
Troy 3
Lions 6
Jaguars-Chargers Under 45
(BB) Buccaneers pick
Record (points): 7-3 (7)
Best Bets: 2-0 (2)
MIKE NORTH
Stanford 13.5
Texas A&M -1.5
Vikings -6
Broncos 1.5
(BB) Patriots 3
Record (points): 5-5 (5)
Best Bets: 2-0 (2)
ERIN RYNNING
Kansas -7
Tulsa-Mississippi Over 65.5
Bengals-Jets Over 45
Chiefs-Colts Over 50.5
(BB) 49ers-Broncos Over 44
Record (points): 5-5 (5)
Best Bets: 0-2 (0)
DAN SALEY
Clemson -7
Kansas -7
Tulsa 21
UL-Lafayette -8.5
(BB) Michigan -17
Record (points): 5-5 (5)
Best Bets: 1-1 (1)
JAMES SALINAS
SMU 1.5
Jets 6
Jaguars 7
Falcons 1
(BB) Bills-Dolphins Over 53
Record (points): 7-3 (7)
Best Bets: 1-1 (1)
PAUL STONE
Kansas -7
Washington State 7
Arkansas 1.5
Arkansas-Texas A&M Under 49.5
(BB) Rice-Houston Over 51.5
Record (points): 4-6 (4)
Best Bets: 0-2 (0)
JEFF WHITELAW
Patriots 3
Panthers 3
Bears -2.5
Seahawks -1
(BB) Bills-Dolphins Over 53
Record (points): 6-4 (6)
Best Bets: 1-1 (1)
CRIS ZENIUK
North Carolina -2.5
Michigan State 3
Washington State 7
Commanders 6.5
(BB) 49ers -1.5
Record (points): 5-5 (5)
Best Bets: 1-1 (1)