Doc’s Sports Service has been offering winning selections from some of the best handicappers in the sports gaming industry for over 40 years. One of our top performers over the last four years has been the Vegas Sports Informer. He has been able to combine his unique talent of breaking down matchups with 15 years experience working behind the counter of one of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas to build a solid track record of providing consistent winners in a number of sports. Working in the undisputed sports gambling capital of world gives VSI an insider’s edge that is hard to duplicate outside the confines of the Las Vegas Strip.

As part of an ongoing series, Doc’s Sports Services has taken the opportunity to sit down with The Informer to get a first-hand, behind-the-scenes update on what is really going in the Las Vegas books as well as get his expert opinion on each week’s hottest trending sports betting topics.

Doc’s Sports: We got an early jump on the weekend with the Thanksgiving Holiday, but did the Las Vegas books have anything to be thankful for this past weekend?

VSI: Thursday was a Thanksgiving to forget with a number of parlays involving New England’s romp over the Jets taking their toll. The losses carried over on Saturday with everyone, but the books were thankful that USC did not kick a field goal at the end the game against Notre Dame to cover. That game dominated the day as the sharps laid off most of the other big matchups on the slate. Sunday would have been an outstanding day with a number of underdogs covering the spread, but the action was just not there as the crowds headed for the exits early in the day after the long Holiday weekend. I am thankful that I hit on my NFL Game of the Year with the Giants rolling over the Packers.

Doc’s Sports: We now know that No.1 Notre Dame will be playing either No.2 Alabama or No.3 Georgia in the BCS title game depending on the outcome of this Saturday’s SEC Championship between the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs. What is your take on the situation?

VSI: As I mentioned last week, I still see Alabama and Notre Dame clashing in the BCS Championship with the Tide favored by at least 10 points. If something crazy happens this Saturday, you can still expect the Irish to be three- or four-point dogs to Georgia in that game. Either way, I would have to take a long look at Notre Dame, as any time a team has that long to prepare anything can happen on game day. The Fighting Irish’s best chance in either matchup is to try and grind it out on the ground and hope their defense can do the same to keep the score as low as possible. With an expected total line of around 48 to 49, the “under” could also be a solid play.

Doc’s Sports: After every week in the NFL, the experts on ESPN or the NFL Network get together and pick their top teams. Right now, heading into the month of December, which are your top five teams in the league?

VSI: I have been on San Francisco and Houston as the top two NFL teams in almost a 1 and 1A fashion for quite awhile now. The 49ers really impressed me this past Sunday by going into the Superdome and handling the Saints. That is a tough place to win a game no matter how good or bad New Orleans is. After those two, I would go with Atlanta at No.3.The Falcons remain one of the most balanced teams in the league and continue to find ways to win games. Rounding out my top five would be New England and Denver.

Doc’s Sports: This Tuesday and Wednesday is the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Do see these two conferences as the cream of the crop in men’s college basketball?

VSI: At this point my top conference in the country would be the Big Ten. Everyone expected Indiana and even Ohio State to be good, but my shining star so far would have to be Michigan. A team with three solid shooters is a very dangerous commodity in college basketball, and the emergence of Glen Robinson III puts the Wolverines firmly in that category. The ACC would definitely be my second-best conference with Duke off to a strong start and James McAdoo lighting it up for North Carolina.

Doc’s Sports: Finally, the Knicks and Nets battled it out last night for the first time with Brooklyn coming away with a 96-89 win at home. In your opinion, which of these two is the biggest apple in New York?

VSI: Far and away I would have to say the Nets. This is a team that is now fast, young, and deep enough to give Miami a run for its money in the East. The Knicks are just too old to hold up over the grind of a long regular season, and the return of Amar’e Stoudemire could actually prove to be more of a distraction than a help.

To keep up on all the inside information from Las Vegas be sure to follow VSI on Twitter @vsidocsports. Also, if you have any questions for The Informer that you would like us to cover in future articles please email them to askvsi@docsports.com and we will do our best to add them into the mix.