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.
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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).
X-BOBBY “BUCKETS” BRUBECK (fifth eliminated)
Record (points): 29-34-2 (30)
Best Bets: 4-9 (4)
CHUCK EDEL
San Diego State -6
Georgia Southern-Buffalo Over 67.5
East Carolina-Coastal Carolina Over 63.5
Florida State -9
(BB) North Carolina-Oregon Over 73
Record (points): 44-31 (44)
Best Bets: 6-9 (6)
X-BRIAN EDWARDS (sixth eliminated)
Record (points): 33-37 (33)
Best Bets: 7-7 (7)
CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA
Panthers +2.5
Chiefs -10
Georgia Southern -3.5
Kansas +3
(BB) Saints +3
Record (points): 45-30 (45)
Best Bets: 11-4 (11)
X-STEVE FEZZIK (second eliminated)
Record (points): 21-28-1 (21.5)
Best Bets: 6-3-1 (6.5)
JOEY “TUNES” FORTUNA
Bills-Bears Under 40.5
Raiders +2.5
Cardinals +7.5
Colts +4.5
(BB) Titans -3
Record (points): 44-30-1 (44.5)
Best Bets: 9-6 (9)
DOUG KEZIRIAN
East Carolina-Coastal Carolina Over 63.5
Browns -3
Steelers -2
Broncos -3
(BB) Central Florida-Duke Over 62.5
Record (points): 44-29-2 (45)
Best Bets: 7-6-2 (8)
MARC LAWRENCE
Patriots +3
Eagles +4.5
Packers +3.5
Coastal Carolina +7
(BB) Steelers -2.5
Record (points): 38-35-2 (39)
Best Bets: 9-6 (9)
RANDY MCKAY
Bears +8
Titans -3
Raiders +2.5
Chargers-Colts Under 45.5
(BB) Eagles +4.5
Record (points): 43-30-2 (44)
Best Bets: 8-7 (8)
X-MIKE NORTH (first eliminated)
Record (points): 16-26-3 (17.5)
Best Bets: 3-6 (3)
X-ERIN RYNNING (third eliminated)
Record (points): 24-30-1 (24.5)
Best Bets: 3-7-1 (3.5)
X-DAN SALEY (seventh eliminated)
Record (points): 36-37-2 (37)
Best Bets: 7-8 (7)
JAMES SALINAS
Bengals -3
Bears +8
Eagles +4.5
Broncos -3
(BB) Steelers -2.5
Record (points): 42-30-3 (43.5)
Best Bets: 7-8 (7)
PAUL STONE
Middle Tennessee-San Diego State Under 49
Oklahoma State-Wisconsin Under 43
Kansas-Arkansas Over 68.5
Washington +3.5
(BB) Washington-Texas Under 67.5
Record (points): 40-34-1 (40.5)
Best Bets: 6-9 (6)
JEFF WHITELAW
Dolphins -3.5
Packers-Dolphins Over 50
Broncos-Rams Under 37
Buccaneers-Cardinals Over 40.5
(BB) Titans -3
Record (points): 40-32-3 (41.5)
Best Bets: 8-5-2 (9)
X-CRIS ZENIUK (fourth eliminated)
Record (points): 26-32-2 (27)
Best Bets: 4-8 (4)
———————
MIKE PALM
Browns -3
Bengals -3
Texans-Titans Under 35.5
Eagles +4.5
(BB) Lions -2.5
Record (points): 41-31-3 (42.5)
Best Bets: 9-5-1 (9.5)
MATT YOUMANS
Patriots +3
Middle Tennessee +6.5
Colts +4.5
Washington +3.5
(BB) Eagles +4.5
Record (points): 39-35-1 (39.5)
Best Bets: 9-6 (9)