Ever wanted to test your mettle in a big football betting contest, but not quite ready to put your money where your mouth is?
The VSiN Average Joe Contest is a free pick ’em contest that features both NFL and college football spreads and totals.
Go to VSiN.com/Joe to sign up.
The contest won’t start until Week 1 of the NFL season, but that gives contestants time to familiarize themselves with the rules and the scoring format. Here is a cliff notes version of the contest:
* Entries select seven picks per week from NFL and college football full-game spreads and totals.
* There are a maximum of four college football totals per week.
* One of those seven bets is designated as a “Best Bet” and is worth 1.5 points, while other correct picks are worth 1 point.
* Pushes and picks on canceled/postponed games are worth 0.5 points. Incorrect picks or no picks are 0 points.
Once we get to Weeks 19 and 20, which would be the college football and NFL playoffs, only three selections are required, with one designated as a Best Bet. The contest ends with the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 25, 2027, which just so happens to be here in Las Vegas.
The contest lines are posted at 10 a.m PT on Fridays and come from Circa Sports. All contestants have the same lines to pick from, so even if there is a line move on Friday afternoon or overnight into Saturday morning, the odds do not change. Once they are posted, that is what they are. All picks are due by 7 a.m. PT on Saturday. Even if you are only selecting NFL games, all picks are still due by 7 a.m. PT on Saturday.
What can you win? Well, there are full-season prizes and also quarterly prizes. The quarters are Weeks 1-5 (Sept. 11-Oct. 14), 6-10 (Oct. 15-Nov. 18), 11-15 (Nov. 19-Dec. 23), and 16-20 (Dec. 24-Jan. 27). The top scorer for the quarterly prizes would get airfare for two (2) to Las Vegas and a two-night stay for two at the Circa Resort & Casino. (You may not need the airfare, but friends/family might if you have them sign up and play.)
The runner-up for the season will also receive airfare for two to Las Vegas and a two-night stay for two at the Circa Resort & Casino.
The Average Joe champion will get bragging rights for sure, but will also be an automatic qualifier for the 2027 Circa Friday Football Invitational and be an in-studio guest on a VSiN show. The champ will also get the airfare for two to Las Vegas and a two-night stay for two at the Circa Resort & Casino.
Certainly the goal is to do well and win a prize, but this is the best example of what it means to be a part of the VSiN community. Our hosts talk about the Average Joe Contest on-air all the time and are constantly keeping track of the standings.
We also have the standings posted every week, plus we also post the number of selections on each side of the spread and the total on the game, so you can see what the consensus looks like and follow it or fade it with your personal wagering. That can be valuable information, especially if you are somebody who wants to go against the public sentiment.
You can see more about the contest, rules, eligibility, and sign up at VSiN.com/joe.
