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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PRO TIPS & PICKS

A Numbers Game: Be careful betting baseball games right now, if they don’t involve teams still trying to make the playoffs. Teams that have clinched or teams that are completely out of it will be approaching games far differently. View more tips.

Ian Cameron: USC at Colorado - OVER (73.5). View more picks.

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