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


by Doc's Sports - 9/26/2017

Mason Rudolph Oklahoma State Cowboys

The new NFL season has gotten off to a very interesting start when it comes to betting on the games in light of just two teams posting a perfect 3-0 start. With a number of favorites losing straight-up last week, we will check in with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza to get his take on where he sees things heading in Week 4.

Rising through the ranks to become one of the most successful sports handicappers in the nation, Raphael also had a very successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry that concluded in 2013 with him holding the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria. While still residing in the sports gambling capital of the world as well as in the Big Easy of New Orleans, the former Vegas Sports Informer continues to run 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 underdogs on the pointspread and the "over" on the total line dominated the betting action in Week 3 of the new NFL season. In light of last week's results, what is the word in town as to how the sportsbooks fared against the betting public?

RE: The Las Vegas books were coming off a big Saturday in college football, and things just kept rolling right through the early NFL games on Sunday. The losses for the public were so deep that things actually slowed down at some of the books I talked to for the late games on Sunday and even on Dallas for Monday night.

Doc's Sports: From a general betting standpoint, what do you make of the early results in the NFL in terms of a few inside tips on how to bet on this week's games?

RE: I am focusing most of my energy on a few road teams that need to step up their games to show me that they are a legitimate playoff contender this season. Oakland faces a huge test at Denver, Pittsburgh needs to bounce back against a Baltimore team that was embarrassed in London, and Detroit needs to show me something on the road this week against Minnesota.

Doc's Sports: College football betting has heavily favored road teams against the spread through the first four weeks of games with a 60 percent winning percentage on the closing betting line. Heading into Week 5, are there a couple of road teams on this Saturday's schedule that have caught your eye from a betting standpoint?

RE: The top two games on this list would be Oklahoma State on the road against Texas Tech in the Big 12 and Clemson going on the road to face Virginia Tech in the ACC. The Cowboys are coming off a bad loss to TCU as 9.5-point favorites at home, so they cannot afford another off day as 10-point road favorites this Saturday. The Hokies figure to be Clemson's biggest test left on the schedule with Florida State struggling. This should shine a big spotlight on this matchup with the Tigers set as eight-point favorites.

Doc's Sports : We all know that you are a big fan of the WNBA. The Los Angeles Sparks took the early 1-0 series lead against the Minnesota Lynx in Sunday's tight 85-84 victory on the road as 5.5-point underdogs. How do you see the rest of this best-of-five series playing out with the Sparks looking to successfully defend last season's league title.

RE: Game 1 was a very important win for Los Angeles after they almost blew a huge lead, but I am not sure they can take the 2-0 series lead with another road win in Game 2. That being said, I do like the Sparks and the six points in that game and overall I would probably lean slightly towards LA winning this series as defending champs.

Doc's Sports: Along with a full slate of football this weekend and the WNBA Finals, the MLB regular season comes to an end on Sunday in advance of next week's Wild Card Round of the playoffs. While that is more than enough to keep the average sports bettor busy, is there anything else on your betting radar heading into the final week of September?

RE : I would have to move soccer to the top of my list with action in the Champions League, Premier League and MLS over the next five days or so. I am also working on some betting props for a few upcoming movie premiers as well as for the National Toy Hall of Fame.

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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