Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 5/9/2017

by Doc's Sports - 5/9/2017

It's a mixed bag when it comes to betting on sports this week from two winner-take-all Game 7 showdowns in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, The Players Championship in professional golf and the start of the 2017 WNBA regular season this weekend. In this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza , we will get his take on all these sporting events as well as the current playoff picture in the NBA Conference Semifinals.

During a long and successful career in the Las Vegas Sportsbook industry that culminated with him holding the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria, Raphael also worked his way up the ranks to become one of the top sports handicappers in the nation when he was known as the Vegas Sports Informer. He retired from the sportsbook industry back in 2013. However, he continues to split is 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: Are you going chalk with both Boston (against Washington) in the East and San Antonio (against Houston) in the West as favorites to win their respective NBA Conference Semifinals matchup heading into what has become a best-of-three affair which each series tied at two games apiece?

RE: With Nene out for the Rockets, I do believe that gives San Antonio enough of an edge to win this series. The problem with Boston winning is that Isaiah Thomas cannot do it all by himself no matter how good he plays. I believe this actually swings things in Washington's favor as this series presses on.

Doc's Sports: The Pittsburgh Penguins blew a 3-1 series lead against the Metro Division rival Washington Capitals in that best-of-seven NHL Eastern Conference Semifinal series with losses in the last two games. Which one of these elite NHL powers do you have getting the win in Wednesday's Game 7 showdown?

RE: I honestly believe that the tide has turned against Pittsburgh in this series after getting outscored 9-2 in the last two games. Washington has been notorious for its past letdowns on a big stage, and things do not get much bigger than a Game 7 at this point of the playoffs, but I am still leaning towards the Capitals to win this game.

Doc's Sports: The Players Championship this week at TPC Sawgrass in Florida is often referred to professional golf's "Fifth Major". Dustin Johnson had to pull out of this year's Masters last month due to a non-golf related back injury as the clear favorite to win. Does that add any value to the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world's betting odds as the clear favorite to win this tournament?

RE: Johnson has proven himself to be the best golfer in the world right now, but my concern with him winning this week is the course. TPC Sawgrass really favors the game of golfers such as Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia and even Ricky Fowler, so the competition is going to be really tough through all four rounds. Depending on the betting odds, I would actually look to bet on any three of those players against Johnson in a head-to-head matchup.

Doc's Sports : Everyone knows what a big fan you are of the WNBA. The new regular season gets underway this weekend with all 12 teams in action. While the betting lines have yet to be released for the opening round of games, which anticipated underdog has the best chance to pull off a straight-up upset right out of the gate?

RE: My betting advice for the opening round of games in any sport is to look for a small play on a few favorites at a small spread. It is really hard to know what to expect on opening day from any team, and the WNBA is no exception. I always thought that there is a certain level of comfort betting small favorites that are coming off a productive season last year.

Doc's Sports: We covered quite a bit of ground in this week's discussion, but is there anything else that we may have overlooked that is also on your betting radar right now?

RE : Along with everything else that is going on right now, I am also dialed into UEFA Champions League soccer. The one team that has really caught my eye has been Juventus after running its string of shutouts to an amazing six matches. It is up against AS Monaco today in a semifinals match as a solid favorite, and this could be a team to ride if it goes on to play in the final of the Champions League.

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 .

Pick:	CHICAGO BEARS +3
Start:	November 24, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #256 Chicago Bears +3 over Minnesota Vikings (1p.m., Sunday, November 24 FOX) We used the Bears as a free play winner last Sunday and easily covered the spread and should have been an underdog outright winner. Now we will ride them for a second straight week against another NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are 8-2 on the season, yet are only around a field goal favorite. I still do not trust Sam Donald to win consistently over the course of a 17 game regular season. Minnesota is not as good as their 8-2 record would indicate and playing outdoors in Chicago on Sunday will cause issues for them on both sides of the ball. Chicago has been hit or miss this season, but they will be up to play another divisional rival and we expect them to take this down to the wire as well. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend Card featuring top plays in college and NFL football. Read More Read Less

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