Doc's Sports is already off to a fast start this football season in our 43^rd year in the sports selection business. In such a competitive environment like this, you do not stick around that long without doing something right. One of the main reasons for such a high level of success has been our ability to surround ourselves with a team of expert sports handicappers that are among the best in the nation at what they do. One of Doc's top experts in the field for the past eight years has been Raphael Esparza.

He cut his teeth as an expert handicapper during a long and illustrious career behind the counter of some of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas. Raphael was formally known as the Vegas Informer all the way up to his retirement from the prestigious position of Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria.

He may be retired from the sportsbook industry, but Raphael is working as hard as ever with a network of some of the biggest and most influential insiders in Las Vegas, and these sports betting professionals know the gaming industry inside and out. These strategic relationships provide an "inside edge" that is incorporated into all the selections that Raphael releases. Diversity is another successful aspect of his handicapping service, with selections for all the major sports as well as the WNBA, horse racing, boxing, professional tennis and soccer leagues all around the globe.

Doc's Sports has gained exclusive access to the Las Vegas betting scene through a weekly Q&A with Raphael to get 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 that is a true "insider" in the undisputed sports gambling capital of the world. The following is this week's conversation.

Doc's Sports: In a recent post in your blog, Straight Bet Talk, you commented on the current state of the Big Ten, which is obviously a conference near and dear to our hearts given Doc's Wisconsin roots. Do you think any of the teams can bounce back from such a dismal start to seriously compete for a playoff spot this year?

RE: Right now I would have to say that even if Big Ten teams such as Michigan State or Wisconsin ran the table, they still would not get in this year's playoff unless a number of the top teams in the nation would have two losses, which is not all that likely. This conference needs to start changing its overall style of play and add some speed to its lineups. The Big Ten simply cannot compete against the better SEC, Pac-12 and Big 12 teams in the nation by trying to run the ball down their throats all the time.

Doc's Sports: Turning to Week 3 in college football, the only head-to-head matchup between ranked teams is No. 6 Georgia on the road against No. 24 South Carolina. Some football experts are touting the Bulldogs as the best team in the SEC this season. What is your take on this subject?

RE : It is hard to get a really good read on Alabama right now given its early schedule, but I would have to agree that Georgia is quickly emerging as the team to beat in the SEC. The spread on this week's game against South Carolina continues to rise, so the betting public apparently feels this way too.

Doc's Sports : New England and New Orleans are on a number of people's list to meet in Super Bowl XLIX this season, but both NFL powers lost their opener last Sunday as favorites on the road. From what you saw in those games, is there any cause for concern for either the Patriots or the Saints given that it was just the first week of the season?

RE: I would have more concern for New Orleans right now simply because of the level of competition it has to face not only in the conference but in its own division. Both of these teams would be a 'wait-and-see' situation for me right now before betting on them to cover in this week's games.

Doc's Sports: Both Miami and Buffalo pulled off stunning upsets in Week 1, and this week they will face one another with the game listed as either a pick'em or the Bills minus one at home. What are your early thoughts on which team comes out on top in this AFC East clash.

RE: I would not underestimate the power of home-field advantage in this matchup in light of a tentative agreement with a new ownership group that has vowed to keep the team in Buffalo. This crowd will be fired up on Sunday, and the Bills should be able to feed off all that energy.

Doc's Sports : The dogs ruled the day in Week 1 of the NFL season with 11 of the 16 underdogs either winning straight up or covering with the closing spread. How did this unexpected turn of events impact the take in Las Vegas?

RE: I talked to a few veteran industry executives in town and this was easily the biggest opening day take for the NFL that they could remember. The Las Vegas books cleaned up on teams like Atlanta, Buffalo and Carolina winning straight up as underdogs, and there was a ton of money bet on parlays involving Chicago and Pittsburgh. One of the biggest factors was a lack of late afternoon games on Sunday's schedule, and by the time Monday night rolled there was hardly any money left to bet.

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.