Doc’s Sports enters another year in the sports selection industry at the top of our game after posting a profitable run this past football season and jumping out to a fast start in college basketball. For over 42 years, we have been providing our loyal customers with a steady stream of winners for all the major sports with help from some of the top handicappers in the business.

For close to eight years, Raphael Esparza has been one of the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to picking winners. Previously known as the Vegas Sports Informer, he honed his craft during a long and illustrious career working behind the counter of some of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas including the position of Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria.

Raphael decided to retire from the sportsbook industry this past summer, but he still goes to work every day sourcing information from a vast network of contacts that he developed over the years. This information has created an invaluable ‘inside edge’ that remains a vital part of his daily handicapping efforts. Raphael offers an extensive array of sports selection packages, so chances are that if you can bet on it, he can provide the right pick!

Doc’s Sports decided to tap into this ‘inside edge’ through a series of weekly discussions with Raphael that are specifically designed to uncover valuable insight into the hottest trending topics in the sports betting industry today. He continues to prove time and time again that working and living in the undisputed sports gambling capital of the world keeps him at the top of his game. The following is this week’s discussion.

Doc’s Sports: The spread with many of the books for this Sunday’s Super Bowl has settled-in at 2.5 points with Denver favored over Seattle. As you continue to break down this matchup, are you more inclined to give or take the points given this current betting line?

RE: It does not look like this line is going to climb any higher, so if you are leaning towards Denver winning straight up, you are better off wagering on the moneyline, which is currently set right around -130. If you are leaning towards Seattle then take the 2.5 points.

Doc’s Sports: The total for this game is currently set at 47 with most of the bigger books in town. Now that the weather for Sunday night does not appear to be a major factor, which way are you leaning with this betting line?

RE: While it looks like snow and bitter cold will not be a factor, do not rule out the role that even a little wind can play in the outcome of this game. I would still lean towards the under in this matchup as the deep ball for both teams passing game could be impacted.

Doc’s Sports: The Super Bowl has become known for generating hundreds of prop bets ranging from the length of the “National Anthem” to which color Gatorade gets poured on the winning coach. Are there any specific prop bets for this year’s game that have caught your interest?

RE: The reason that props are so big for this game is that they are the casino’s main profit center when it comes to making money on the Super Bowl. There is some tremendous value in certain props if you know where and how to look. This is especially true when it comes to cross-sport matchups with soccer, the NBA and the NHL.

Doc’s Sports: Turning to college basketball, Arizona is the No. 1 team in the nation and the obvious favorite to win the Pac-12 regular-season title. Can you give us one or two other teams to watch in that conference as the season wears on?

RE: Arizona is the top team, but this still a very deep and talented conference. I could see UCLA pushing the Wildcats down the stretch, and do not take your eyes off a team like Cal. The Golden Bears are coming off a couple of tough road losses to USC and UCLA, but they are still my sleeper team to make some noise in the Pac-12.

Doc’s Sports: Oklahoma City travels to Miami this Wednesday night for a huge inter-conference showdown in the NBA. What are the odds that Thunder’s guard Kevin Durant extends his scoring streak of 30+-point games to 12?

RE: The key to Durant’s success has been his ability to adapt to life without Russell Westbrook in the lineup. He appears to be much more relaxed as well as confident in the role that Reggie Jackson and some of the other backups have played in this offense. Given his new attitude about not having to do it all, I can easily see Durant putting up 30 or more points against the Heat this Wednesday.

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.