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


by Doc's Sports - 9/25/2018

Ryan Tannehill Miami Dolphins

Heading into the final weekend of September, the stage is set for a fantastic fall of sports betting at Doc's Sports with a number of different selection packages to help build your bankroll. One of the most diverse expert sports handicappers in the nation is Raphael Esparza , and he loves this time of year given everything the betting board has to offer. The former Vegas Sports Informer knows a thing or two about beating the books following a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry that culminated with a prestigious stint as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria until his retirement in 2013.

Running his own successful sports investment service from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans, Esparza's selection packages cover the gambit from the NFL to props for pop culture betting opportunities. Doc's gets the unique chance to talk one-on-one with one of the top handicappers in the nation to get his take on some of the hottest tending topics in the world of sports betting.

Doc's: The NFL results against the spread in Week 3 were evenly split between underdogs and favorites, but a few major upsets had to push some money the sportsbooks' way at the expense of the betting public. What are you hearing from your inside sources on how the books fared this past week in the NFL?

RE: Detroit's stunning upset against New England on Sunday night salvaged the day for the books with a small overall gain for the week. Earlier in the day, they lost big on New Orleans, Carolina and Seattle. As far as Monday night's game, there was quite a bit of two-way action on Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay to cancel things out.

Doc's: The Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots are each off to a shocking start for completely opposite reasons. These AFC East rivals face one another in New England on Sunday with the Patriots favored by a touchdown on most of the early lines. How do you see this game playing out?

RE: I have crossed this game off the list. We have been down this road before with New England and a slow start. Miami could keep things close and cover, or it could just as easily get its doors blown off by a Patriots' team returning to form.

Doc's: One of the biggest showdowns in Week 5 of the college football season sends the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes on the road as favorites against the No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions in a game that could decide the Big Ten's East Division race. You know that Doc's has a vested interest in the outcome of this game, so what are some of your betting thoughts given the matchup?

RE: Next to Alabama, I would have say that Ohio State has been the next-most-dominating team so far in college football. The off-field distractions with Urban Meyer's recent suspension had little or no impact on the Buckeyes' performance on the field. This is still going to be tough matchup to call either way, but Penn State getting points at home is always attractive.

Doc's: You have been providing Doc's with a free Mid-Major pick of the week this season. Central Florida remains the top-ranked Mid-Major team in the latest AP Top 25 at No. 13, but would the Knights be your top team from the ranks of the five conferences that make up this category?

RE: Central Florida continues to roll coming off last year's perfect 13-0 run, but I would have to rank BYU a close second following the Cougars' upset against Wisconsin. I am very interested to see if they can hold their own on the road against Washington this Saturday night.

Doc's: We know that you have been working on some special props for movie premiers and other pop culture betting events that are regularly posted on Doc's blog. What is up your sleeve next for betting on these types of special events?

RE: I just posted my prop bet odds and betting prediction for which actor will portray Batman in the next movie in this long-running series . I am also working on props for next weekend's WWE event as well as a betting piece for states' legalizing sports betting such as New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. All three have legalized sports betting and are in the process of getting their operations up and running. There other states that I am researching for the piece that are still going through the legislative process.

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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