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

by Doc's Sports - 3/15/2016

Denzel Valentine Michigan State Spartans

The 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament gets underway this week, and Doc's Sports is turning to expert handicapper Raphael Esparza for the inside scoop on which teams to advance through your bracket all the way to the Elite 8. As an added bonus, we will see if we can get him to tip his hand as to his picks for this year's Final Four.

The former Vegas Sports Informer first made a name for himself as an expert handicapper during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. At one point in this career, Raphael held the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until his retirement in 2013. Since then, he has been splitting his time between Las Vegas and the Big Easy in New Orleans running a successful and diverse sports investment service. The following is this week's Q&A with one of Doc's most interesting handicappers.

Doc's Sports: The NCAA Selection Committee has spoken, so starting in the South Region of this year's tournament bracket, which two teams do you have battling it out in Louisville on March 26 in the Elite Eight?

RE: I would have to go chalk with Kansas at the top of the bracket, but I have the Jayhawks facing No. 3 Miami in the Elite Eight. The Hurricanes have some great value in their odds to win this region, and I see them getting a chance to pay off by getting past Villanova in the Sweet 16.

Doc's Sports: Moving to the West Region where Oregon is the No. 1 seed out of the Pac-12 followed by the Big 12's Oklahoma Sooners as the No. 2 seed, does this bracket go chalk or is there an upset in the making for this Elite Eight pairing?

RE: The Ducks are flying well under the radar right now as a No. 1 seed, and I see that as a good thing. I also like the No. 3 seed in this region with Texas A&M advancing past Oklahoma to face Oregon in the Elite Eight.

Doc's Sports : The East is stacked with power teams such as North Carolina and Kentucky wedged into the top of the bracket, while West Virginia and Xavier occupy the top two seeds in the bottom half. Can you give us your prediction for which team teams ultimately face off in the Elite Eight in this region?

RE: As much as I can understand the hype surrounding the Tar Heels and the Wildcats, I am going with Indiana to make a run in the top half of this bracket. I am really high on West Virginia and its shutdown defense to make a run of its own to face the Hoosiers in this regional final.

Doc's Sports : Virginia is the top seed in the Midwest Region with Michigan State ranked No. 2. There are potential pitfalls for both of these teams along the way, so will they prevail to meet in Chicago on March 27 in that region's final?

RE: Butler's past glory in this tournament as an underdog could be the guiding force past a highly-overrated Virginia team in the top half of the Midwest Region bracket. In the bottom portion, I currently have Michigan State penciled in, but I am not ready to put the Spartans name in ink.

Doc's Sports: Now that we know your lineup for the Elite 8 Round of this year's NCAA Tournament, we are really going to put you on the spot. Which four teams do you have meeting in Houston the first weekend in April in the Final Four?

RE : I would stick with Kansas out of the South and Oregon out of West to fill the two spots on the left side of the page. I am going the ride the Mountaineers as the top team in the East, and I will add Michigan State with an asterisk as my pick in the Midwest. Do not be surprised if a team like Fresno State makes a crazy run to the Final Four as the No. 14 seed in what is shaping up to be the most wide-open region in this year's tournament.

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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