Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 7/21/2015

by Doc's Sports - 7/21/2015

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander

Doc's Sports Service is gearing up for another profitable season in both college football and the NFL in our 44^th year of providing bettors with winning selection packages for all the major sports. One of the main reasons we have enjoyed continued success year after year for the past four decades in such a competitive business environment has been Doc's commitment to surrounding ourselves with a team of expert handicappers that is made up of some of the best of the best in their field.

Raphael Esparza has been a shining star on Doc's team for well over eight years. The former Vegas Sports Informer rose to these heights as an expert sports handicapper during a long and successful career behind the counter of some of the biggest sportsbooks in Las Vegas. During his career he also rose to the prestigious position of Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until his retirement from the sports betting industry in 2013.

Raphael continues to knock it out of the park regularly with the benefit of having direct access to a vast network of Las Vegas "insiders" that include some of the town's biggest and most influential personalities in the sports betting game. These professionals know this industry inside and out, and his sports investment business has done an excellent job of leveraging this "insider information" to gain that all important handicapping edge when it comes releasing his selections for the games.

Savvy bettors who have been along for the ride have been able to make a small fortune over the years with Raphael's winning track record in a number of different sports. Most handicappers will stick with making selections for major sports such as football and basketball, but his service includes picks for the WNBA, horse racing, boxing, professional tennis and soccer leagues all around the globe. One week it might be pro wrestling and the next it could be prop bet picks in the world of entertainment.

Doc's Sports and Raphael developed a weekly Q&A to give readers a deeper look into the Las Vegas betting scene as well as cover some of the hottest trending sports betting topics of the day. When looking for the ultimate sports betting source, we have found that there is no one better than a true "insider" in the undisputed sports gambling capital of the world. The following is this week's conversation.

Doc's Sports: Major League Baseball probably makes up the majority of the action for quite a few sports bettors this time of year, so along with handicapping the individual games, do you ever get involved with selections for the series price betting odds that sportbooks also release each week?

RE: Going back about 10 years ago, MLB series price bets were a big thing with a few of the Las Vegas sportsbooks, but now a days the betting odds for these types of wagers are pretty much confined to the offshore books. That being said, there can oftentimes be some solid value in betting on series prices depending on how all three pitching matchups shake out.

Doc's Sports: We already know that soccer is one of your top sports in the summer. Do you have any thoughts on the current Gold Cup Tournament as far as this Wednesday's two matchups in the semifinals?

RE: First, do not read all that much into the United States' 1-1 tie against Panama in group play last Monday as I have America coming away with at least a two-goal victory against Jamaica to advance to the Gold Cup Championship. Mexico verses Panama could end up being a much closer match than expected, and it would not surprise me to see Mexico get upset as a fairly heavy favorite. Regardless of which one of those countries does win, I would still bet on Team USA to win it all this upcoming Sunday.

Doc's Sports: Last week we started our tour of the major conferences for college football with a discussion about your top teams in the ACC for 2015. Moving on to a conference that is near and dear to Doc's Sports, is there any team in the Big Ten that can take down Ohio State this season?

RE: Ohio State's late-season showdown against Michigan State at home could be interesting, but I am looking for a repeat of last year's Big Ten title game between the Buckeyes and Wisconsin. I am not sure that the Badgers can pull off an upset as likely underdogs, but this year's championship game should be much closer than last year's.

Doc's Sports: Turning to the NFL, and in particular the AFC East, is there any reason to bet against the New England Patriots as heavy favorites to once again win a division they have dominated in recent history in light of Tom Brady's pending four-game suspension?

RE: I would not necessarily bet against the Patriots winning their division again as my inside sources tell me that Brady's suspension should be reduced to two games. However; I also feel that the other three teams in the AFC East have all taken some positive steps forward to close the gap. The one team that has caught my eye is the Buffalo Bills at +425

Doc's Sports : You are coming off a big night at the ESPYS where in last week's discussion you gave our readers the upset pick of Ronda Rousey winning best fighter of the year. What is coming next up for you as far as selections for a betting event in the world of entertainment?

RE: I might cover some of the betting props for the gross ticket sales surrounding a few blockbuster Hollywood movie premiers in the next few weeks, but I will definitely be all over WWE's Summer Slam in August and the Emmy's in September.

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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