Doc's Sports has become synonymous with Big Ten football because of our Wisconsin roots, but we have been providing winning picks for all of college football and the NFL for over 43 years. One of the main reasons for our continued success in such a competitive industry has been the ability to surround ourselves with some of the best expert handicappers in the game. One of our shining stars for the past eight years has been Raphael Esparza.

Raphael made his way to the top of his profession over the course of a long and illustrious career working behind the counter for some of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas. Formally known as the Vegas Informer, at the pinnacle of his career he held the prestigious position of Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until his retirement from the sportsbook industry a year ago.

He now spends the majority of his time networking with some of the biggest and most influential insiders in Las Vegas. These professionals know the sports betting industry inside and out, and Raphael has been able to incorporate this "inside edge" into the majority of the picks he releases. Diverse is another good way to describe Raphael with selection packages for all the major sports as well as the WNBA, horse racing, boxing, professional tennis and soccer leagues all around the globe.

Awhile back, Doc's Sports initiated a weekly Q&A with Raphael for the sole purpose of providing our readers with his expert insight into some of the hottest trending topics in the sports betting industry today. We have found that there is no better source than someone with direct access to the true "insiders" in the undisputed sports gambling capital of the world. The following is this week's conversation.

Doc's Sports: Week 3 of the NFL preseason is the closest thing there is to what a particular team may look like once the games start counting for real. From a handicapping perspective, can you give us a few things you will be looking for in this week's games?

RE: The two main things I will focus my attention on in this round of games is the play of the backup quarterback on a team where the starter is set and a team's defense with the starters in the game. Quarterback injuries are a huge part of the NFL, so you have to have a viable backup, and everyone knows that defense wins championships.

Doc's Sports: San Francisco is your pick to win the NFC West this season and one of the favorites in Las Vegas to win it all this year. Should there be any serious reason for concern considering how poor the 49ers have looked in their first two preseason games?

RE : I put very little weight on anything that happens in the preseason when it comes to the legitimate contenders in the league. It takes consistently poor play through the first two or three weeks of the regular season to raise any serious concerns for the entire season. One thing I am surprised about is how good Peyton Manning and the Broncos have looked so far. He appears to be in mid-season form throwing the ball, and the team as a whole looks ready to make another deep run this year.

Doc's Sports : Florida State, Alabama, Oregon and Oklahoma are the top favorites with most Las Vegas sportsbooks to make it into this season's inaugural college football four-team playoff for a national title. We all know that you are high on the Ducks' chances to make the field, but can you give one or two other teams outside this top four that have a good chance to make it in as well?

RE: I think teams such as South Carolina out of the SEC and Wisconsin in the Big Ten have a chance to crash that party, but my top pick would be the Big 12's Baylor Bears. I really like their quarterback Bryce Petty and the whole team is flying under the radar with most of the preseason attention going to the Sooners in that conference.

Doc's Sports: The actual start of the new college football season is right around the corner with a number of games on next Thursday's slate. Can you give us a pick for one of those Thursday games to help get the year off to a solid start?

RE: I had my eye on Rutgers as a 9.5-point road underdog against Washington State, but I missed the boat on that line now that it has dropped to eight points with most of the books in town. I still like the Scarlet Knights' chances to cover, but on a much smaller play.

Doc's Sports : You really demonstrated your diversity as a handicapper with your recent picks for this past Sunday's WWE Summerslam in your blog Straight Bet Talk. Are there any other exotic betting events on the horizon that you will be releasing picks for?

RE: The Little League World Series has caught my eye, especially since there is a team from Nevada in the field. Unfortunately, I may have to go against my home-town team as a -530 favorite in their next game against the team from Philadelphia, which is listed as a +350 underdog.

Click here to visit Raphael Esparza's Insider's Page at Doc's Sports for more information on his amazingly-profitable sports handicapping picks. Also, get $60 worth of Esparza's member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit for any sport Esparza handicaps. Click here for $60 worth of free picks from Raphael Esparza . Also be sure to follow him on Twitter @VSIDocsports.