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


by Doc's Sports - 11/7/2017

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While football continues to highlight the weekly betting action at Doc's Sports, in this week's discussion with expert handicapper Raphael Esparza we will also turn our attention to the start of a new season of college basketball to get his thoughts on a few teams that would be at the top of the list when it comes to betting on these early nonconference games.

For years he was known as the Vegas Sports Informer while he worked his way up the ranks in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. Raphael not only became one of the best sports handicappers in the nation during this run, he also assumed the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until retiring in 2013. These days he continues to split his time between his home base in 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: Things are starting to get really interesting in the race to this season's College Football Playoff. One of the biggest matchups this Saturday is No. 3 Notre Dame on the road against No. 10 Miami. How do you see this game playing out with the undefeated Hurricanes set as three-point home underdogs?

RE: Notre Dame has played its best football at home and this could be a stiffer test on the road than most people expect. I was really impressed with the way Miami's defense shut down Virginia Tech last Saturday, and I would actually lean towards the Hurricanes and the three points in this week's matchup.

Doc's Sports: Turning to the NFL, the NFC playoff picture is a jumbled mess with a number of teams in the mix for the top spot in the conference. The AFC is becoming a bit more predictable with New England and Pittsburgh on a possible collision course for another showdown in the conference title game. Heading into Week 10, which team do you have as listed as your top AFC title contender?

RE: I would rank Pittsburgh slightly ahead of New England right now for the way it has been able to win on the road. These two teams are definitely at the top of the conference no matter how you rank them, but the one contender that has caught my eye is Jacksonville coming out of the AFC South. The ability to run the ball and play smashmouth defense has been known to take teams pretty far into the playoffs in the past.

Doc's Sports: You have also been paying close attention to the betting action in the CFL all year long. Sunday's opening-round playoff matchup between Edmonton and Winnipeg in the West Division should be a good one between two of the highest-scoring teams 'north of the border'. While the betting lines for this game are still off the board, do you have any early thoughts as to which team will be moving on to face Calgary in the division finals?

RE: Of the two playoff games in the CFL this Sunday, this matchup is definitely the most interesting. I would look for Winnipeg to open as a three-point favorite at home and I would also lean towards the Blue Bombers to cover. The total should open around 55 points, but if it goes higher this could open the door for a play on the 'under'.

Doc's Sports : Friday night's betting board offers the first round of college basketball games to start the new season. Can you give us one or two teams that may have caught your eye as solid bets right out of the gate?

RE:m I am not sure about being a best bet right now, but the two teams that intrigue me the most would be Wichita State now playing out of the American Athletic Conference and Southern Cal as one of the top teams in the Pac-12 this season. I actually think that Cincinnati is the all-around better team in the AAC, but the hype surrounding the Shockers is sky high heading into the new season. USC usually does not get this kind of love in the preseason rankings, so it will be interesting to see how well the Trojans live up to the lofty expectations in the early part of the season.

Doc's Sports: This Saturday night on ESPN from Fresno, Calif., is a full card of boxing action, including the featured bout between Artur Beterbiev and Enrico Koelling for the vacant IBF light heavyweight title. Do you have any early thoughts on the best way to bet on this fight?

RE : There are a number of great boxing matches on Saturday night with another full card of betting action on HBO. You could also add in UFC Fight Night to really dial things up. As far as the bout you mentioned, I would lean towards Beterbiev as the better pure puncher and a true knockout artist. No matter which of these two brawlers does go on to win the IBF light heavyweight title, it should be a fairly quick fight that lasts only two or three rounds.

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