When it comes to the sports selection industry, Doc’s Sports Service has been at the top of its game for well over four decades by providing our loyal customers with a steady stream of winning picks for all the major sports. This has been especially true when it comes to both college football and the NFL. We attribute a good deal of this success to surrounding ourselves with some of the best handicappers in the business. A perfect example would be an ongoing seven-year relationship with Raphael Esparza. Formally known as the Vegas Sports Informer, he honed his handicapping skills during a long and illustrious career working behind the counter of some of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas, including a successful stint as Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria. Raphael decided to retire from the sportsbook industry earlier this year, but he is still hard at work tapping into a vast network of contacts in Las Vegas to maintain his ‘insider’s edge’. He has incorporated this edge into his selections, which has only enhanced his ability to deliver winning seasons for a wide array of sports.

Doc’s Sports has gained direct access to this ‘insider’s edge’ through a series of weekly discussions with Raphael that have been able to uncover some valuable insight into the hottest trending topics in the sports gaming industry today. He is definitive proof that living and working in the undisputed sports gambling capital of the world has been a huge part of his move to the top of the ranks in his field. The following is this week’s discussion.

Doc’s Sports: There are a number of key matchups on this week’s schedule in the NFL. Can you give us a game or two that has caught your attention as a solid play on either the side or the total?

RE: The first game I really like is Detroit as a small road favorite over Pittsburgh. The Lions know they are in excellent position to expand their lead in the NFC North, and the Steelers are still a pretty bad team despite last week’s win over Buffalo. I also like Jacksonville as a seven-point underdog at home against Arizona. Getting that first win after such a long dry spell often times leads to better all-around play from a team like this in their next few games.

Doc’s Sports: When it comes to college football, Alabama and Florida State have repeatedly stood up to every challenge they have faced so far. Do you see both of these teams running the table from here on in to end up in the BCS title game against one another?

RE: Both teams should be able to win out, but each has a huge rivalry left on the schedule, and anything can happen in games like that. The team to watch is Baylor. If the Bears keep winning against a couple of tough conference opponents, they are in excellent position to jump both Stanford and Ohio State to get to No. 3.

Doc’s Sports: Staying with college football, there is a huge matchup in the Big Ten this week between No. 16 Michigan State and Nebraska, with a potential trip to the conference title game on the line. How do you see this one shaking out?

RE: I had Nebraska as a three- to four-point home underdog in this game, so right off the bat I would have to go with the Cornhusker given the current spread of 6.5 points. This matchup could also be a good candidate for a play on the “under” in light of Michigan State’s defense.

Doc’s Sports: Last week we talked about the top four or five teams in the nation in college basketball, but which teams out there are you following as potential top plays for the early part of the season?

RE: The team at the top of my list would be Creighton, which is not even in the Top 25 at this time. Doug McDermott is the type of player that can get this team some straight up wins in games it is supposed to lose. Two other teams that are currently off the national radar screen but on mine are Indiana and New Mexico. Both of these teams lost quite a bit of talent from last season, but they each have some younger players capable of stepping up their game to fill the void.

Doc’s Sports: The NBA season is still relatively new, and we are in the process of trying to separate of few of the true contenders from the pretenders. Can you give a few tips that you use this time of the year to handicap the games?

RE: Early in the season you can have quite a bit of success with first half lines. Often times the better of the two teams will jump out to a big lead before coasting a bit in the second half. Also look for small-market teams with a favorable line against some big city marquee franchises that are struggling such as Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers. Teams like Portland and Minnesota in the West and Indiana and Milwaukee in the East have long memories and will jump at the chance to pound a big-market team whenever it gets the chance.