The lifeblood of any sports selection company is the success rate of its handicappers, so we must be doing something right at Doc's Sports in our 43 ^rd year of business. We have always prided ourselves in building a team of expert handicappers. One of our best for the past eight years has been Raphael Esparza, who worked his way to the top of the ranks in this highly-competitive industry over the course of the past two decades.

He already made a name for himself in the sports betting industry during a long and illustrious career working behind the counter for some of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas. Previously known as The Vegas Informer, Raphael rose to the prestigious position of Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria.

After retiring from the sportsbook industry almost a year ago, Raphael has stayed busy by 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 he has done an excellent job to incorporate this "inside edge" into all of the selections he releases. Raphael's handicapping service stands out from all the rest through his ability to provide selection packages for a wide array of sports that include the WNBA, horse racing, boxing, professional tennis and soccer leagues all around the globe.

Through a weekly Q&A format with Raphael, Doc's has gained exclusive access to this "inside edge" as far as getting 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 undisputed sports gambling capital of the world? The following is this week's conversation.

Doc's Sports: I would imagine that this is one of the slowest times of the year for the Las Vegas sportsbooks. What are some of the ways they try and attract action without that much daily action on the boards?

RE: What you will see many books do is expand their betting options for MLB games. They will start pushing more exotics such as reverse run lines as well as live in-game betting. The addition of both Del Mar and Saratoga to the horse racing schedule also helps bring some traffic through the door in the summer months. This year they may try and capitalize on the World Cup with expanded betting lines for MLS.

Doc's Sports: Over the past few weeks we have been talking about some of the tighter divisional races in baseball. Now that the second half of the MLB regular season is underway, which team do you have coming out on top in the American League West; Oakland or Los Angeles?

RE : You could still possibly add Seattle to that mix if it decides to go after some pitching help, but I really like the Angels' chances to come out on top in the AL West. The expectation level was probably too high last season, but this team as appeared to finally gel with some excellent team chemistry to go along with all that talent.

Doc's Sports : We have also discussed your NFL picks for the division races in the AFC West and the AFC North, so which team do you have winning the AFC South this season?

RE: I would have to give the edge to Indianapolis, but it would not surprise me in the least to see Houston back on top of the division standings this year. The Texans' defense has the potential to be one of the best in the league, which could be more than enough to carry them past the Colts in the AFC South.

Doc's Sports: Moving to college football, Oklahoma appears to be the class of the Big 12 this season. Would the Sooners be your pick to win the 2014 conference title, or do you have your eye on someone else?

RE: Oklahoma has both experience and a great defense going for it this year as well as a quality head coach in Bob Stoops. Baylor could give chase behind quarterback Bryce Petty, and Texas should be better, but the Sooners would have be my pick to win the Big 12 as well.

Doc's Sports : Last week in your blog, Straight Bet Talk, you listed some of the projected win totals for college football teams as provided by Westgate Sportsbook in Las Vegas. Can you give us a couple of the "over/under" picks that you like the best?

RE: I focus a good deal of my handicapping energy on the Pac-12, so right off the bat I would go "over" on Oregon's 10.5 win total and "under" on UCLA's projected win total of 9.0 despite the prohibitive moneylines already leaning that way. One of my top plays heading into the new season would be the over 7.5 on Florida. This is just too good of a program to not win at least eight games.

My in-town pick for all those Rebel fans out there is the under on UNLV's win total of four. In light of a pending bowl ban which never materialized, this team lost a ton of talent that will make even two or three wins a reach this year.

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.