The NFL heads into the second week of the preseason, and the first college football game is just two weeks away, making it the perfect time of the year to get on board with Doc's Sports Advisory Board of expert handicappers. We have been leaders in the sports selection game for over 43 years, and we are more than ready for another successful run through the football season. We have a team of expert handicappers ready to help build your bankroll, and one of the top dogs in that group for the past eight years has been Raphael Esparza.

Raphael rose to the top of the sports handicapping ranks over the course of a long and illustrious career working behind the counter for some of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas. 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.

The former Vegas Informer now spends the majority of his time working with a vast network of some of the biggest and most influential insiders in Las Vegas. These professionals know the sports betting industry inside and out, and Raphael uses this "inside edge" in all the selections he decides to release. His handicapping service is also unique in that he can deliver selection packages for a wide array of sports that include the WNBA, horse racing, boxing, professional tennis and soccer leagues all around the globe.

Doc's Sports has been sitting down with Raphael for a weekly Q&A for quite some time now to provide our readers with his expert insight into some of the hottest trending topics in the sports betting industry today. What better source is there 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: I realize that is was just the first full week of the 2014 NFL Preseason, but can you give us a few takeaways from the games that particularly caught your attention?

RE: The biggest surprise of Week 1 was how many games went "over" the total. I also liked what I saw from Jacksonville rookie quarterback Blake Bortles. If he keeps playing like that it's going to be hard to keep him on the bench.

Doc's Sports: Last week we started our journey handicapping the NFC with your pick of San Francisco winning the West. Moving onto the NFC North, what do you see happening in this division this year?

RE : This is clearly the Packers' division to lose as long as Rodgers remains healthy. The addition of Julius Peppers was a great move as he is set to have a big year in Green Bay's defensive scheme. Chicago could give chase as I have them as one of my wild card teams, but I see the Lions taking a step backwards this year.

Doc's Sports : While just about every college football expert out there expects a team from one of the five major conferences to win this year's national title, can you give us one or two mid-majors that have the best shot at making a run at getting into the newly-formed four-team playoff system?

RE: We are probably a few years away from a mid-major team seriously competing for a spot in the playoffs unless the field gets expanded beyond four teams. Boise State probably has the best chance to make some noise, and Central Florida is still a very good team even without Bortles at quarterback. One mid-major conference to keep your eye on is the Mountain West, which to me is the best in the nation outside the five majors.

Doc's Sports: When we discussed the biggest winner after the July 31st MLB trade deadline, you pointed to Detroit's acquisition of starter David Price as the key piece to putting the Tigers over the top in the AL Pennant race. Is there cause for concern for Detroit fans given the current situation with Kansas City rallying to take the lead in the AL Central Division as of Wednesday's games?

RE: Some of the issues that Detroit currently has with its starting rotation have to be of some concern, but none of them appear to be a long-term problems. The Tigers are not going to run away with things against a very solid Royals' team, but I still have them winning the division and remaining the team to beat in the AL Pennant race.

Doc's Sports : Las Vegas has been known for releasing odds for some crazy prop bets in the past. You recently posted an article in your blog Straight Bet Talk about a Super Bowl prop at Cantor Race and Sports Book that has released odds to win for The Birds at 12/5, The Animals at 9/5 and The Field at 5/6. Which way are you going in this one?

RE: This is a great three-way prop that should attract quite a bit of action as the NFL fans from the bird and animal teams come into town. Unfortunately for them, all the value lies in the field. The betting line on the field has moved to -140 since this prop was released, but it is still worth the added the risk considering the teams that are in this group

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.