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


by Doc's Sports - 11/21/2017

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski

The extended Thanksgiving Holiday weekend offers something for everyone when it comes to betting on the games with the help of Doc's Sports Services. In this week's discussion with one of our expert handicappers, Raphael Esparza , we will get is take on of the few hottest trending topics on the board from college football to the Grey Cup Championship 'north of the border'.

Raphael rose through the ranks to become one of the top sports handicappers in the nation at the same time he was working his way to the top of the Las Vegas sportsbook industry as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria. He retired from the sportsbook industry in 2013 to focus all of his time and energy on running a successful and diverse sports investment service from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from 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: Philadelphia continues to set the pace in the NFC both on the field at 9-1 straight up and at the betting window with an 8-2 record against the spread. Coming off a huge win in Dallas on Sunday night, could this be a good time to actually go against the Eagles as two-touchdown favorites at home against Chicago this Sunday in light of the 3-7 Bears' 6-3-1 record ATS.

RE: The one thing that does stand out about Philly has been its ability to cover this season. Granted this Sunday's spread is higher than normal for NFL games, but I cannot see Chicago's defense slowing down an Eagles' offense that has been virtually unstoppable in its last few games. I still believe you have to keep riding this hot hand until it cools.

Doc's Sports: Over in the AFC, New England and Pittsburgh are at the top of the list at 8-2 SU. New England is 5-1 ATS in its last six games and it is giving 17 points to Miami at home this Sunday afternoon, while the Steelers are giving 14 points to Green Bay on Sunday night after going 4-1 ATS in their current five-game winning streak. Do you have any thoughts on the best way to bet either of these two games?

RE: Much in the same way that Philadelphia's offense has picked up the pace on the scoreboard in recent weeks, New England's defense has stepped up its game to shut opposing teams down after a slow start out of the gate. Once again, you almost have to ride the hot hand in both of these games. If I would lean towards an underdog in either matchup, it would be Green Bay because I am not completely sold on the Steelers ability to keep winning big on a continual basis.

Doc's Sports: The biggest game on the board this rivalry weekend in college football is the annual Iron Bowl between 11-0 Alabama and 9-2 Auburn. The Crimson Tide are currently favored by 4.5 points on the road against the Tigers with a trip to the SEC title game and possibly the College Football Playoff on the line. What are your thoughts on how this betting line might move leading up to kickoff this Saturday afternoon?

RE: I would think that the majority of the money will continue to go towards Alabama as the week wears on. I would not be surprised to see this spread hit five or possibly even 5.5 points by kickoff. Auburn is a good team, but I believe the Tigers have been overhyped a bit in light of that big win against Georgia.

Doc's Sports : You have had great success with your top plays in the CFL all season long. With Calgary trying the erase the bitter memory of last year's stunning loss to Ottawa in the 2016 Grey Cup as a nine-point favorite, does this add value to the Stampeders as seven-point favorites against Toronto in this Sunday's CFL Championship?

RE: Last year's stunning loss could be a factor, but you still have to take into consideration current form and the fact that Calgary has not covered a spread since the end of September. When you factor in Toronto's current form at 6-2 both SU and ATS in its last eight games, I would lean towards going against the Stampeders in this game.

Doc's Sports: Given just how much betting action is on the board over the Thanksgiving Holiday, is there anything we missed that is hot on your list over the next five or six days?

RE : I will be closely following MLS's Leg 1 of this season's playoffs starting tonight and continuing with Leg 2 on Wednesday and Thursday. You also have plenty of great betting action in college basketball with a number of holiday tournaments on tap later in the week. At the top of the list for Saturday would be a full card of boxing on HBO featuring Sergey Kovalev against Vyacheslav Sharbranskyy for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title.

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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