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Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza

by Doc's Sports - 11/3/2015

Derrick Henry Alabama Crimson Tide

One of the biggest games on this Saturday's crowded college football slate is a SEC showdown between No. 4 LSU and No. 7 Alabama, so in this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza we will get his take on which way to go in this high-profile matchup.

The former Vegas Sports Informer closed out a long and prosperous career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until he walked away from the game for good in 2013. Raphael remains as busy as ever running a successful sports investment service from Las Vegas as well as the Big Easy in New Orleans. The following is this week's Q&A with one of Doc's most diversified handicappers.

Doc's Sports: Each Tuesday we have been recapping the action in the Las Vegas Sportsbooks when it comes to the results in the previous week's NFL games. There were a few big upsets in Week 8, but the favorites also won their share of games in another fairly even round between the two. Which games were the big winners and losers at the betting window for the books when all the smoke cleared?

RE: The books won again last week, and overall they have regained the edge over the betting public like they normally do every year. The big winner on the board last Sunday was Atlanta's straight up loss to Tampa Bay. There was also quite a bit of money on the "over" in Denver's win against Green Bay, and another big winner for the books was Seattle failing to cover against Dallas. They did give some money back to the public on Monday night, but it was not a significant loss.

Doc's Sports: Speaking of Green Bay, it was the latest team to fall from the ranks of the NFL's unbeaten, leaving just four teams left with a perfect straight up record on the year. In your opinion, will the Packers return the favor this Sunday by knocking 7-0 Carolina from the unbeaten ranks?

RE: Carolina finds itself in a tough spot in this game even though it is playing at home. The Panthers are coming off a short week and they could be beaten up a bit in a tougher-than-expected battle against the Colts. They now have to face an angry Packers' team that is looking to take its frustrations out on somebody.

Doc's Sports : The SEC West Division title and a possible spot in the College Football Playoff could be on the line this Saturday when LSU goes on the road to face Alabama. Most of the books in town have opened the Crimson Tide as 6.5-point favorites. Which way would you lean in this game?

RE: When this line was first released as a futures bet in the summer, Alabama was a 9.5-point favorite, so things were not all that far off even with LSU's strong start. I see the public betting the current line down to six, which would make me lean towards the Tide. The best play could be the under if you can lock in at 49.

Doc's Sports : A new season of college basketball gets underway starting next Friday with North Carolina, Kentucky and Maryland holding down the top three spots in both of the major preseason polls. Would these three national powers be at the top of your personal list or would you have someone else in the mix?

RE: I really do not pay all that much attention to preseason polls in college basketball because these things have a way of working themselves out as the season wears on. I am good with North Carolina and Kentucky at the top, but right now I would put Kansas ahead of Maryland at No. 3. Overall, there is quite a bit of talent in the Top 10-ranked teams this season, which should work to keep things interesting.

Doc's Sports: American Pharoah closed out his storied horse racing career with a victory in this past Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic, while Nyquist caught everyone's attention as the next big thing with his victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. What are your early impressions of this two-year-old colt as a possible Triple Crown contender in 2016?

RE: I was really impressed with Nyquist in his win in the Juvenile. He was able to stalk the leaders and break down the stretch when he had to, which is normally a trait of a championship-caliber horse. I am not ready to anoint him as a legitimate threat to be the next Triple Crown Champion given what I saw this year from American Pharoah, but Nyquist would be on my short list of Kentucky Derby hopefuls heading into next 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 .

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