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

by Doc's Sports - 10/18/2016

Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza just so happens to be a huge Chicago fan given his native roots, so in this week's discussion we will get his early thoughts on the current NLCS showdown between the Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as his pick for how he sees this best-of-seven series panning out.

Raphael first made a name for himself as one of the top sports handicappers in the nation as the Vegas Sports Informer during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. At the pinnacle of his career, he held the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until his retirement in 2013. He continues to run a very successful and diverse sports investment service while splitting his time between Las Vegas and the Big Easy in New Orleans. The following is this week's Q&A with one of Doc's most interesting handicappers.

Doc's Sports: We have been tracking the betting results in Las Vegas for the NFL season since Week 1, and, with the exception of a mild loss two weeks ago, the sportsbooks in town have been cleaning up against the betting public. In light of the underdogs posting a slight edge against the spread again this past week, which side got the best of things in Week 6?

RE: The books had another big day with teams such as Carolina, Seattle and Pittsburgh failing to cover. The only game that the betting public cleaned up on was New England's lopsided win against Cincinnati, so you can chalk up another winning week in the NFL overall to the Las Vegas sportsbooks.

Doc's Sports: The Dallas Cowboys appear to be the real deal at 5-1 behind rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. If you had to bet on him keeping the starting job in Big D even when veteran signal caller Tony Romo is ready to go, which way would you lean?

RE: If you would have asked me that question last week, I would have gone with Romo returning as the team's starter after this week's bye, but that dominant win on the road against Green Bay changed everything. The Cowboys cannot afford to mess with the momentum that Prescott has created with his play on the field, and going back to Romo could seriously divide what has quickly become a very young locker room.

Doc's Sports : Moving to the college ranks, do you think that Texas A&M has what it takes to keep this Saturday's road matchup against the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide closer than the current 17-point spread in what would have to be considered the biggest head-to-head conference showdown on the Week 8 slate?

RE: I just cannot see any college football team going into Tuscaloosa right now and keeping things close against a very dominant Alabama team. I would definitely lay the 17 points with a play on the Tide given what I have seen from Texas A&M's offense. The Aggies are good, but they are not good enough to keep things closer than the current spread.

Doc's Sports : The Cleveland Indians have been nothing short of amazing in this year's MLB Playoffs with a 6-0 record heading into Game 4 of their ALCS series against Toronto. While I know that you are a big Chicago fan, can the Indians take a page out of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers' recent NBA Championship run and bring another world title to the city?

RE: I do not know how you can bet against a team that has won every playoff game so far. The Indians' biggest issue could be pulling off the sweep on Tuesday night and then having to wait around to face the winner over in the National League in a series that will probably go six or seven games. Extra rest in baseball oftentimes equates to rust, especially this time of the year so Cleveland might want to think about losing a game or two to Toronto as crazy as that may sound.

Doc's Sports: Speaking of the Cubs, their NLCS series against the Los Angeles Dodgers is down to a best-of-five affair after these two split the first two games in Chicago. They are favored to win Tuesday's Game 3 on the road with Jake Arrieta on the mound, so what is your take on this game as well as this series as a whole?

RE : It is not to say that tonight's game is a 'must win' for Chicago, but the Cubs need to take full advantage of any opportunity when the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw cannot be a factor in the outcome of a game either as a starter or pitching out of the bullpen. The Cubs also need to find a way to get their bats going again like they did all season long.

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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