Graded Week 16 NFL and college football selections for Circa Friday Football Invitational

December 28, 2022 04:35 AM
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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).

CIRCA FRIDAY FOOTBALL INVITATIONAL
GRADED WEEK 16 SELECTIONS
 

X-BOBBY “BUCKETS” BRUBECK (fifth eliminated)

Record (points): 29-34-2 (30)

Best Bets: 4-9 (4)

CHUCK EDEL

San Diego State -6 L

Georgia Southern-Buffalo Over 67.5 L

East Carolina-Coastal Carolina Over 63.5 W

Florida State -9 L

(BB) North Carolina-Oregon Over 73 L

Record (points): 45-35 (45)

Best Bets: 6-10 (6) 

X-BRIAN EDWARDS (sixth eliminated)

Record (points): 33-37 (33)

Best Bets: 7-7 (7)

CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA

Panthers +2.5 W

Chiefs -10 W

Georgia Southern -3.5 L

Kansas +3 W

(BB) Saints +3 W

Record (points): 49-31 (49)

Best Bets: 12-4 (12)

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 L

Raiders +2.5 L

Cardinals +7.5 W

Colts +4.5 L

(BB) Titans -3 L

Record (points): 45-34-1 (45.5)

Best Bets: 9-7 (9)

DOUG KEZIRIAN

East Carolina-Coastal Carolina Over 63.5 W

Browns -3 L

Steelers -2 W

Broncos -3 L

(BB) Central Florida-Duke Over 62.5 L

Record (points): 46-32-2 (47)

Best Bets: 7-7-2 (8)

MARC LAWRENCE (eighth eliminated)

Patriots +3 L

Eagles +4.5 L

Packers +3.5 W

Coastal Carolina +7 L

(BB) Steelers -2.5 W

Record (points): 40-38-2 (41)

Best Bets: 10-6 (10)

RANDY MCKAY

Bears +8 L

Titans -3 L

Raiders +2.5 L

Chargers-Colts Under 45.5 W

(BB) Eagles +4.5 L

Record (points): 44-34-2 (45)

Best Bets: 8-8 (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 W

Bears +8 L

Eagles +4.5 L

Broncos -3 L

(BB) Steelers -2.5 W

Record (points): 44-33-3 (45.5)

Best Bets: 8-8 (8)

PAUL STONE

Middle Tennessee-San Diego State Under 49 W

Oklahoma State-Wisconsin Under 43 W

Kansas-Arkansas Over 68.5 W

Washington +3.5 W

(BB) Washington-Texas Under 67.5 W

Record (points): 45-34-1 (45.5)

Best Bets: 6-9 (6)

JEFF WHITELAW

Dolphins -3.5 L

Packers-Dolphins Over 50 L

Broncos-Rams Under 37 L

Buccaneers-Cardinals Over 40.5 L

(BB) Titans -3 L

Record (points): 40-37-3 (41.5)

Best Bets: 8-6-2 (9)

X-CRIS ZENIUK (fourth eliminated)

Record (points): 26-32-2 (27)

Best Bets: 4-8 (4)

———————

MIKE PALM

Browns -3 L

Bengals -3 W

Texans-Titans Under 35.5 W

Eagles +4.5 L

(BB) Lions -2.5 L

Record (points): 43-34-3 (44.5)

Best Bets: 9-6-1 (9.5)

MATT YOUMANS

Patriots +3 L

Middle Tennessee +6.5 W

Colts +4.5 L

Washington +3.5 W

(BB) Eagles +4.5 L

Record (points): 41-38-1 (41.5)

Best Bets: 9-7 (9)

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