For more than a decade, football bettors have flocked to the Strip’s tiny smoky sportsbook on Friday nights in the fall to watch two handicappers face off in the $10,000 winner-take-all contest. Contestants’ names were lit up on the outdoor marquee, adding an element of prestige to being part of the Stardust Invitational.
The competition ended after the 2005 season. Stardust closed on November 1, 2006, and the two hotel towers imploded in March 2007.
It’s time to bring back the memories of old friends. To wrap up the Stardust Invitational, Circa owner Derek Stevens has put in money and he is backing the Circa Friday Football Invitational, a new event produced by VSIN.
The theme is the same, but the contest format is slightly different and improved. There are still 16 handicappers in the bracket, but in a 1-on-1 elimination he’s in a duel where he’s pitted only 2 handicappers in a week, in contrast to the Stardust format, where he’s all Competitors participate in weekly competitions that span the entire season. Stevens increased the prize to $25,000.
16 Handicap fields are officially set. Here are the details of the competition:
Sixteen handicappers compete in a season-long competition with a $25,000 cash prize, no entry fee.
when: Friday 9th September to Friday 6th January 2023 (18 weeks)
Where: VSIN Studio at Circa Sportsbook
Contest play: 5 plays, college and NFL sides and totals (no props, team totals, first half plays, etc.) and 1 designated as Best Bet (BB).
standings
10th week selection
Bobby “Bucket” Brubeck
Louisville +6.5 UL Monroe-Georgia Over 59 Texas-South Alabama Under 46.5 North Texas +6 (BB) Browns +3.5 Record (Points): 26-19 (26) Best Bet: 4-5 (4)
Chuck Edel
Indiana – Ohio 61+ South Carolina – Florida 59.5+ Vanderbilt – Kentucky Brian Edwards
Mississippi +12 Seahawks +2.5 Bears -3 Titans -3 (BB) Texas A&M-Auburn 48+ Record (Points): 21-24 (21) Best Bet: 5-4 (5)
Chris “The Bear” Farika
Louisville +6.5 Arizona State +9 Arizona +20 Buccaneers -2.5 (BB) Texas Tech -4 Record (Points): 26-19 (26) Best Bet: 6-3 (6)
Steve Fezik
Vanderbilt – Kentucky Under 47.5 Louisiana Tech – UTSA 68+ Jaguars – Chiefs 50.5+ Texans – Giants 40.5+ (BB) South Mississippi +5 Record (Points): 19-25-1 (19.5) Best Bet: 5-3- 1 (5.5)
Joey “Tunes” Fortuna
Central Florida – Tulane 54+ Washington State -8 Giants -4.5 Raiders -4.5 (BB) Army – Troy 46+ Record (Points): 22-23 (22) Best Bet: 4-5 (4)
Doug Kezilian
Navy +16 Utah -24 Auburn -1.5 Steelers +1.5 (BB) Boston College – NC Over 41 Record (Points): 28-17 (28) Best Bet: 6-3 (6)
Mark Lawrence
Louisville +6.5 Washington +13 Browns +3.5 Packers +4 (BB) Cardinals +3 Record (Points): 22-21-2 (23) Best Bet: 5-4 (5)
Randy McKay
Central Florida – Tulane Over 54 Mississippi +12 New Mexico +21.5 Chargers +7 (BB)
X-MIKE NORTH (first dropout)
Record (Points): 16-26-3 (17.5) Best Bet: 3-6 (3)
Erin Linning
Nebraska-Michigan Under 49.5 Arizona-Washington Over 59.5 Mississippi +12 Broncos +3 (BB) Cowboys-Packers Over 44 Record (Points): 19-25-1 (19.5) Best Bet: 2-6-1 ( 2.5)
Dan Sally
North Carolina -18 Tulane -1 Baylor -3 Hawaii +11.5 (BB) North Texas +6 Record (Points): 21-22-2 (22) Best Bet: 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 Bet: 4-5 (4)
Paul Stone
West Virginia +8.5 South Carolina +8.5 Texas Christian +7.5 Army – Troy Under 46 (BB) Florida – Syracuse Under 50.5 Record (Points): 23-21-1 (23.5) Best Bet: 3-6 (3)
Jeff Whitelaw
Tulane -1 Arizona – Washington Under 59.5 Steelers +1.5 Commanders +11 (BB) Browns +3.5 Record (Points): 24-19-2 (25) Best Bet: 6-2-1 (6.5)
Chris Zeniuk
Hawaii +11.5 Browns +3.5 Bills -3 49ers -7 (BB) Cowboys -4 Record (Points): 21-23-1 (21.5) Best Bet: 3-6 (3)
Mike Palm
Illinois -6.5 Iowa State -1.5 Wisconsin Pic Seahawks +2.5 (BB) Colts – Raiders Under 41.5 Record (Points): 26-17-2 (27) Best Bet: 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 Bet: 6-3 (6)