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:
CIRCA FRIDAY FOOTBALL INVITATIONAL
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).
Here are the Week 2 plays from the contestants:
Week 2 plays
BOBBY “BUCKETS” BRUBECK
Fresno State %plussign% 11.5
Dolphins %plussign% 3.5
Dolphins-Ravens Under 44.5
Packers -9.5
(BB) Commanders %plussign% 1.5
Record (points): 2-3 (2)
Best Bets: 0-1 (0)
CHUCK EDEL
UTEP-New Mexico Under 38.5
Troy %plussign% 12.5
Buccaneers-Saints Under 44
Bears-Packers Under 42
(BB) SMU-Maryland Over 72.5
Record (points): 5-0 (5)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
BRIAN EDWARDS
South Carolina %plussign% 25.5
Georgia State -20.5
Fresno State %plussign% 11.5
Giants -2
(BB) California %plussign% 12
Record (points): 3-2 (3)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA
Oregon -3.5
Colorado State %plussign% 17
Iowa -23.5
49ers -8.5
(BB) Tulane %plussign% 14
Record (points): 3-2 (3)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
STEVE FEZZIK
Colorado-Minnesota Over 47
Colorado State %plussign% 17
Arkansas State-Memphis Over 63.5
Cowboys %plussign% 7.5
(BB) Minnesota -27.5
Record (points): 3-2 (3)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
JOEY “TUNES” FORTUNA
Texas-El Paso -2
Marshall-Bowling Green Under 51
South Florida %plussign% 24
Nevada %plussign% 24
(BB) Michigan State-Washington Under 56.5
Record (points): 3-2 (3)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
DOUG KEZIRIAN
Ohio %plussign% 19
Penn State -2.5
Oregon -3.5
Texas A&M -6
(BB) Connecticut %plussign% 47.5
Record (points): 2-3 (2)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
MARC LAWRENCE
Auburn %plussign% 3
Panthers %plussign% 2
Cardinals %plussign% 5.5
Titans -9.5
(BB) LSU %plussign% 2.5
Record (points): 3-2 (3)
Best Bets: 1-0 (0)
RANDY MCKAY
Cincinnati-Miami (Ohio) Over 50.5
Pittsburgh-Western Michigan Over 48
Nevada-Iowa Over 39.5
Cowboys %plussign% 7.5
(BB) Eagles -2
Record (points): 4-1 (4)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
MIKE NORTH
Georgia Tech %plussign% 17
Mississippi-Georgia Tech Over 63.5
Cowboys %plussign% 7.5
Titans %plussign% 9.5
(BB) Jets %plussign% 6.5
Record (points): 3-2 (3)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
ERIN RYNNING
Mississippi-Georgia Tech Over 63.5
SMU-Maryland Over 72.5
Lions -1.5
Patriots -2
(BB) Colts-Jaguars Over 45
Record (points): 3-2 (3)
Best Bets: 0-1 (0)
DAN SALEY
Kansas State -14
South Florida %plussign% 24
Packers -9.5
Eagles -2
(BB) Utah -21
Record (points): 1-4 (1)
Best Bets: 0-1 (0)
JAMES SALINAS
Ohio %plussign% 19
Kansas %plussign% 9
Jets %plussign% 6.5
Jaguars %plussign% 3.5
(BB) Saints %plussign% 2.5
Record (points): 4-1 (4)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)
PAUL STONE
Syracuse -1.5
Nebraska %plussign% 11
Northern Illinois -2.5
Colorado State-Washington State Under 53.5
(BB) Penn State-Auburn Under 48
Record (points): 2-3 (2)
Best Bets: 0-1 (0)
JEFF WHITELAW
Syracuse -1.5
Mississippi State-LSU Over 53
Florida Atlantic %plussign% 8
Lions -1.5
(BB) Raiders -5.5
Record (points): 4-1 (4)
Best Bets: 1-0 (0)
CRIS ZENIUK
Nebraska %plussign% 11
Penn State -2.5
Texas Tech %plussign% 10.5
Saints %plussign% 2
(BB) Panthers %plussign% 2
Record (points): 4-1 (4)
Best Bets: 1-0 (1)