Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 2/25/2016

by Doc's Sports - 2/25/2016

The Oscars are like the Super Bowl of entertainment prop bets, and in this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza we will try and get him to reveal his top-unit play for this Sunday's awards.

Raphael perfected his trade as an expert handicapper during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry when he was known up and down The Strip as the Vegas Sports Informer. At the high point of his 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: Right now the most intriguing futures bet in the NBA is Golden State verses the field when it comes to winning this season's title. What side of the fence are you on when it comes to this wager?

RE: It will be tough for any other NBA team to hang with the Warriors over the length of a seven-game series, but I still think the best value in this bet lies with the field given the strength of teams such as San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference. Even a team like Portland could make things difficult for Golden State if it can continue to play as the high level it has shown lately.

Doc's Sports: We know that you have been a big fan of the Big 12 this season when it comes to men's college hoops, and right now there is a logjam of nationally-ranked teams all the way down to sixth-place in the standings. Kansas has the inside track to win the Big 12 regular-season title. However, are the Jayhawks your top team in this conference heading into the all-important month of March?

RE: I would probably go with Kansas as my top Big 12 team, but the gap between the Jayhawks and the Oklahoma Sooners remains pretty thin. Things drop off a bit from there, but as I have been saying all year long; the Big 12 is by far the deepest overall college basketball conference this season. This opens the door for a number of teams in the Big 12 Tournament next month.

Doc's Sports : Another interesting race is in the NHL's Central Division. A few weeks back the Chicago Blackhawks appeared to be on track to another title, but things have really tightened up since the All-Star break with both Dallas and St. Louis right in the mix at the top of the standings. Which of these three teams do you have ending up on top of the Central once the playoffs roll around?

RE: Not to sound like a homer, but I am sticking with the defending-champion Blackhawks to take care of business down the stretch. The Blues could struggle without goalie Brian Elliott for an extended period of time. And while Dallas has been playing well as of late, I do not see the Stars maintaining this pace into April.

Doc's Sports : MLB spring training sites are back in action in anticipation of the start of the new season of baseball. Making our way around each of the division title races, which team would you bet on to win the American League East this year?

RE: This could be the closest MLB division race on the board, but I would have to lean towards Boston first and Baltimore second given some of the offseason moves both teams have made. I see Toronto taking a step backwards followed by New York then Tampa Bay.

Doc's Sports: The Oscars are probably the biggest betting event when it comes to entertainment award shows, so can you give us your top-unit pick for this Sunday's event?

RE : I would be tempted to go heavy chalk with a parlay of Leonardo DiCaprio as Best Actor and Brie Larson as Best Actress, but my top play could be on Mad Max: Fury Road over the favorite Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the Best Visual Effects category.

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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