Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 8/25/2015

by Doc's Sports - 8/25/2015

The start of a new season of college football is right around the corner, and in this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza we will get him to weigh in on his thoughts as to which teams will make up this year's national playoffs.

The former Vegas Sports Informer has been with Doc's for the past eight years, and he has made quite a name for himself in the sports gambling capital of the world. He first built his reputation as an expert handicapper during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry that included a run as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria. Since his retirement from the sportsbook industry in 2013, he continues to produce winners as owner and operator of one of the top sports investment services in town. The following is this week's conversation

Doc's Sports: Our current trip through your top picks to win their division in the NFL this season takes us to the wide-open NFC South where Carolina won last year's title with a losing record. Which one of these four teams in this division do you have coming out on top in 2015?

RE: This should be one of the most wide-open division races this season, but right now I would lean towards Atlanta with Dan Quinn taking over as head coach. I am looking for a big year from Matt Ryan at quarterback to put the Falcons back on top after two straight losing seasons.

Doc's Sports: We know that you are not a real big fan of all the hype that surrounds the NFL preseason, but from a pure betting standpoint is there anything in particular that has caught your attention through the first two weeks?

RE: Along the same lines as Atlanta, I am looking for Chicago to rebound this season with John Fox as the Bears new head coach. Philadelphia looks like it can move the ball and score points almost at will regardless of which quarterback in running this offense, and I think Seattle could have some issues this season with its defensive secondary judging from the way this group has been exposed so far.

Doc's Sports: Last season, the NCAA switched over to a four-team playoff to decide the National Champion in college football. With a new season of action getting underway in a little more than a week, can you give us your early picks for the top four teams to compete in this year's playoffs?

RE: I have to put Ohio State at the top of the list followed by TCU. Alabama has been very quiet this offseason, but it is still the team to beat in the SEC. My sleeper pick to make the playoffs would be USC out of the Pac-12. The Trojans are finally back to full strength after suffering through the effects of a few seasons of NCAA sanctions and are poised to replace Oregon as the top dog in that conference.

Doc's Sports : Speaking of college football, which matchups on Week 1's opening slate are you looking forward to the most?

RE: I have an early eye on a number of games, but as far as few potential top plays I would start with the "under" 47.5 in next Thursday's Duke at Tulane game. Friday's top play could be Hawaii plus seven points at home against Colorado. The first game I have my eye on Saturday is Nebraska at home against BYU with a lean towards the Cougars getting six points. My top matchup of the day could be Wisconsin against Alabama if the line on the Badgers jumps higher than 10 points.

Doc's Sports: The last time a professional woman's tennis player won the calendar Grand Slam was Steffi Graf in 1998. Do you see any reason to go against Serena Williams winning the upcoming US Open to match that incredible feat this year?

RE: The pressure continues to mount on Serena's run, and it could catch up to her in this final Grand Slam event, but I would not necessarily bet against her winning the US Open. It would all depend on what her odds to win against the field open at.

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 .

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