Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 12/29/2015

by Doc's Sports - 12/29/2015

Earlier this season it appeared that Green Bay would cruise to another NFC North title, but it suddenly finds itself into a winner-take-all battle with the pesky Minnesota Vikings for the top spot in the division in Sunday night's season finale. As part of this week's discussion with Doc's Sport's expert handicapper Raphael Esparza, we will ask him to weigh in with his thoughts on this intriguing showdown.

Raphael cut his teeth as a top sports handicapper during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. At one point in this career, the former Vegas Sports Informer held the prestigious position of the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until his retirement in 2013. Now he is busy running a successful and diverse sports investment service from both Las Vegas in the west and New Orleans in the south to better cover his tracks as one of Doc's most interesting and diverse handicappers. The following is this week's Q&A.

Doc's Sports: We have been tracking the betting public's success and failures wagering on the NFL against the Las Vegas sportsbooks all season long. After posting some big gains the previous two weeks, you would have to think the bettors took it on the chin in Week 16. What are your insider sources telling you about last week's NFL betting results?

RE: The Las Vegas books definitely had a big week in the NFL, but the overall take still did not offset the huge loss in Week 15. Interestingly enough, one of the biggest losses for bettors in Sunday's games came on Seattle. This was fueled by some heavy wagers on the moneyline. Pittsburgh's straight up loss also made some serious money for the books.

Doc's Sports: The Green Bay Packers got pushed around pretty good in this past Sunday's 38-8 loss to Arizona on the road. They return home this Sunday to play Minnesota for the NFC North crown. Is this a great spot to jump all over the Packers as only three-point favorites with most of the books in town?

RE: This time of the year in the NFL you have to stick with the hot hand as teams try and build momentum for the playoffs. The current form of both these teams clearly points to Minnesota as way to go in this Sunday's night's game. I have some genuine concerns with Green Bay's offense right now.

Doc's Sports : New Year's Eve offers up the two biggest games in this season's college bowl schedule with a pair of College Football Playoff semifinal matchups. Which underdog is the better play: Clemson getting 3.5 points against Oklahoma or Michigan State getting 10 points against Alabama?

RE: I would have to go with the Spartans as the better-valued underdog. Oklahoma's season-ending run through the gauntlet in the Big 12 was impressive to say the least, especially when you compare it with Clemson's strength of schedule in the ACC. I still think the SEC as a whole is overrated, including Alabama, which only adds even more value to the large spread in that game.

Doc's Sports : This is also an exciting week in college basketball with the start of conference play. From a handicapping approach, is there anything that you will do different when it comes to breaking down the matchups?

RE: I am actually sad to see nonconference play come to an end because it does offer a number of great opportunities to cash in on the games, especially when it comes to betting the total line. The oddsmakers are still so busy with college and pro football in November and December that quite a few college basketball games tend to fall through the cracks. I will probably just watch the first few rounds of games in conference play before jumping into the mix with a bunch of picks.

Doc's Sports: Over the years, you have gained a reputation as being somewhat of an unconventional handicapper given your interest in fringe sports such as pro wrestling as well as the world of entertainment and politics. With 2015 quickly coming to a close, can you give us a betting event early in the New Year that you are looking forward to the most?

RE : Right now I have turned my attention to the Golden Globes on Jan. 10. This year's awards should create some of the tightest competition in quite some time given just how many good films came out last year. I am looking forward to the challenge, and I hope to have some of my top Golden Globe picks posted on Doc's in the coming days.

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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