Week 2 selections for Circa Friday Football Invitational

September 17, 2022 10:23 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:

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).

STANDINGS

Here are the Week 2 plays from the contestants:

Week 2 plays

 

BOBBY “BUCKETS” BRUBECK

Fresno State + 11.5

Dolphins + 3.5

Dolphins-Ravens Under 44.5

Packers -9.5

(BB) Commanders + 1.5

Record (points): 2-3 (2)

Best Bets: 0-1 (0)

CHUCK EDEL

UTEP-New Mexico Under 38.5

Troy + 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 + 25.5

Georgia State -20.5

Fresno State + 11.5

Giants -2

(BB) California + 12

Record (points): 3-2 (3)

Best Bets: 1-0 (1)

CHRIS “THE BEAR” FALLICA

Oregon -3.5

Colorado State + 17

Iowa -23.5

49ers -8.5

(BB) Tulane + 14

Record (points): 3-2 (3)

Best Bets: 1-0 (1)

STEVE FEZZIK

Colorado-Minnesota Over 47

Colorado State + 17

Arkansas State-Memphis Over 63.5

Cowboys + 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 + 24

Nevada + 24

(BB) Michigan State-Washington Under 56.5

Record (points): 3-2 (3)

Best Bets: 1-0 (1)

DOUG KEZIRIAN

Ohio + 19

Penn State -2.5

Oregon -3.5

Texas A&M -6

(BB) Connecticut + 47.5

Record (points): 2-3 (2)

Best Bets: 1-0 (1)

MARC LAWRENCE

Auburn + 3

Panthers + 2

Cardinals + 5.5

Titans -9.5

(BB) LSU + 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 + 7.5

(BB) Eagles -2

Record (points): 4-1 (4)

Best Bets: 1-0 (1)

MIKE NORTH

Georgia Tech + 17

Mississippi-Georgia Tech Over 63.5

Cowboys + 7.5

Titans + 9.5

(BB) Jets + 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 + 24

Packers -9.5

Eagles -2

(BB) Utah -21

Record (points): 1-4 (1)

Best Bets: 0-1 (0)

JAMES SALINAS

Ohio + 19

Kansas + 9

Jets + 6.5

Jaguars + 3.5

(BB) Saints + 2.5

Record (points): 4-1 (4)

Best Bets: 1-0 (1)

PAUL STONE

Syracuse -1.5

Nebraska + 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 + 8

Lions -1.5

(BB) Raiders -5.5

Record (points): 4-1 (4)

Best Bets: 1-0 (0)

CRIS ZENIUK

Nebraska + 11

Penn State -2.5

Texas Tech + 10.5

Saints + 2

(BB) Panthers + 2

Record (points): 4-1 (4)

Best Bets: 1-0 (1)

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PRO TIPS & PICKS

The Handle: Make sure to look at the NFL schedule before betting. Look ahead games and sandwich spots can lead to teams letting down. View more tips.

James Salinas: Giants (+1.5) vs Seahawks. View more picks.

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