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

by Doc's Sports - 2/2/2016

Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman

The Super Bowl is the most heavily-bet single-day sporting event of the year, and in this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza we will try and get the former Vegas Sports Informer to give us his insight into some his top prop bet picks for the game.

Raphael built his reputation as an expert handicapper during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. He rose all the way up the ranks to the prestigious position of 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 betting line for Sunday's Super Bowl quickly jumped in favor of Carolina from four points to six points early last week. Will it stay at six with most of the sportsbooks in Las Vegas by kickoff, or do you see it moving one way or the other by then?

RE: I am still looking for the spread to drop back to 5.5 points on some late Denver money, but I have been really surprised as to how one-sided the betting has been so far. As I mentioned last week, I was able to get Carolina minus 3.5, but if the line does go the other way to 6.5 points it would give a strong reason to hedge this bet.

Doc's Sports: I would imagine you have worked up a few prop bet picks for Super Bowl 50. Can you share with us one of your top picks for one of the basic team or player props that have been released for this game?

RE: My betting strategy for props is to focus my attention on the ones surrounding the team I have picked to win. That being said, I will probably go with a pair of Cam Newton props by betting the "under" 44.5 on his total rushing yards and the "over" 1.5 on his passing touchdowns.

Doc's Sports : We also know that you like to release a few crazy prop bet picks as in your recent piece on Doc's about the Puppy Bowl. You have also become known for your cross-sport prop bet picks for Super Bowl Sunday. So, do you have an interesting one in mind for Super Bowl 50?

RE: I have always liked playing the cross-team props for the Super Bowl against the NBA. The one at the top of my list for this year's game is Kevin Durant scoring more points in Saturday's Oklahoma City at Golden State matchup than Carolina scores against the Broncos on Sunday.

Doc's Sports : We are starting to see more and more sportsbooks offer betting odds for the 2016 Presidential election. Do you have any early thoughts on how you handicap this race in light of Monday's Iowa caucuses?

RE: Donald Trump's loss in Iowa has to be seen as a pretty big upset that should make Ted Cruz and Marc Rubio's betting odds for next Tuesday's New Hampshire Primary extremely interesting. I still see some solid value in Hillary Clinton's odds to eventually win the Democratic nomination, but I may have to go with Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire.

Doc's Sports: Mohaymen scored a big victory in last Saturday's Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes as part of this season's Kentucky Derby prep race schedule. Do you have any early thoughts on this three-year-old thoroughbred as far as his chances of actually winning this year's Run for the Roses as an early favorite?

RE : It is still a bit early for me to start handicapping this year's Kentucky Derby hopefuls, but there are a couple of big races coming up at the end of this month that will catch my attention. The one interesting thing I do like about Mohaymen is his good closing speed. He is definitely a three year old to watch over the next few months, but I am looking for a few other strong contenders to emerge as well.

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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