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


by Docsports.com - 10/23/2018

Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers

Doc's Sports Services have been a leader in the sports selection industry since we first opened for business in 1971 with the help and support of an expert team of expert sports handicappers over all that time. Near and dear to our heart for over 15 years as been expert handicapper Raphael Esparza . Longtime Doc's customers may better recognize him as the Vegas Sports Informer going back to his days in the Las Vegas Sportsbook industry. Raphael retired from that industry in 2013 as Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria. However, he continues to stay busy running his own sports investment company.

Along with selections for all of the major sports, his investment opportunities run the gambit from horse racing to betting props in the world of entertainment, politics and general pop culture themes. Every week, we get a chance to tap into Esparza's unique handicapping skills to get his expert opinion on some of the hottest tending topics you can bet on.

Doc's: It was reported that the Las Vegas sportsbooks took their first beating of the year in the NFL with the favorites running wild in Week 7. Last week, we talked about NFL favorites to go against, but this time around can you give us a few favorites to go with in Week 8 to keep things rolling?

RE: I would probably move Pittsburgh as an eight-point home favorite against Cleveland to the top of the list. The Steelers are playing much better than they did in the Week 1 tie on the road against the Browns. The game I am most interested in is Green Bay getting nine points on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. The Packers are one of the most popular betting teams in Las Vegas, but the public has been riding the Rams given their 7-0 start.

Doc's: One of the most intriguing matchups in this week's NFL games is Sunday night's conference clash between New Orleans and Minnesota, with the winner establishing itself as the Los Angeles Rams' top competition for the NFC title. How do you see this game playing out?

RE: Even if the Saints were to lose this game, they have a shot to take down the Rams at home the following week. The competition in the NFC North is deep this season, making it a very tough second-half run for all four teams.

Doc's: Clemson and Notre Dame appear to be on the fast track to this season's College Football Playoff given each team's remaining schedule. There is still quite a bit to be decided in the SEC as far as the other two national playoff spots starting with Saturday's East Division clash between Florida and Georgia. Can the Gators work themselves into the CFP mix with an upset on the road given their previous upset against LSU at home?

RE: A Gators' win would actually muddy the waters in the SEC when it comes to the remaining spots in the CFP. Even with the upset against LSU, I do not think they can work themselves into the mix given the teams ahead of them in the rankings. It still all comes down to the Alabama at LSU game next Saturday as far as sorting things out in this conference.

Doc's: The betting public got their dream matchup in this year's MLB World Series with the AL's Boston Red Sox squaring off against the NL's Los Angeles Dodgers. The best-of-seven Fall Classic gets underway tonight with Game 1 at Fenway. So, which team do you have taking the early edge given the matchup on the mound?

RE: My lean for Game 1 is towards Boston since I believe that the Red Sox need this game more than the Dodgers. I actually have Los Angeles winning it all, so a loss on Tuesday would produce some more favorable series price odds for that play.

Doc's: In a recent post on Doc's , you came up for some betting prop bet odds for Tuesday's $1.6 billion Mega Millions Jackpot. The burning question in everyone's mind is will there be a grand prize winner in this next drawing?

RE: In my post, the odds favor Friday at -140 verse the +110 odds for Tuesday's drawing. Most of my rational has to do with the fact that nine of the last 10 jackpots were hit on a Friday. However, my other reason is the sheer curiosity of just how high this current jackpot would go if it does not get hit in the next drawing.

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 do not even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit for any sports Esparza handicaps. Click here for $60 worth of free picks from Raphael Esparza.

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