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


by Doc's Sports - 4/24/2018

Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans

The final week of sports betting in the month of April is highlighted by a few tight matchups in the opening round of the NBA playoffs along with the start of the conference semifinals in the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs. This year's NFL Draft from Dallas gets underway on Thursday with the opening round, and most of the top sportsbooks have released any number of betting props for the proceedings. Add in a full slate of MLB games, and anything else that is on the current betting board, and you know it is going to be another busy week for Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza .

Known as the Vegas Sports Informer during his days working in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry, he rose through the ranks to become one of the top sports handicappers in the nation. At one point in his career, Raphael held the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria. He retired from the sportsbook industry in 2013 but remains as busy as ever 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: Three of the four NBA opening-round best-of-seven series in the Eastern Conference are tied at two games apiece heading into Game 5. Which of three higher seeds, No. 1 Toronto, No. 2 Boston or No. 4 Cleveland should be the most concerned with making an early exit from the postseason?

RE: If I am a Cleveland fan, I am already nervous for my team. LeBron James could easily run out of gas if this series goes the full seven games while going 40-plus minutes a game with little help from his supporting cast. Indiana has already beaten the Cavaliers on the road in this series, so home court is less of a factor in what has become a best-of-three series.

Doc's Sports: The New Orleans Pelicans are the No. 6 seed in the NBA's Western Conference, and they are coming off a stunning four-game sweep against No. 3 Portland in the opening round. Given their high level of play against the Trail Blazers, how many games do you think they will last in a probable best-of-seven matchup against Golden State in the next round?

RE: I am back in New Orleans right now, and there is definitely a buzz in town surrounding this team. The Pelicans caught Portland mired in the middle of a shooting slump, but I doubt that will be the case against Golden State. New Orleans could take this series seven games if Steph Curry remains out of the lineup, but I would bet on a 4-2 series loss to the defending champs.

Doc's Sports: The Toronto Maple Leafs will be on the road this Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins in a Game 7 showdown to close out the opening round of the NHL playoffs. The favorite has already advanced to the next round in six of the other seven series, so are you banking on Boston to follow suit with a win?

RE: We have talked before on how anything can happen in a Game 7 matchup in the NHL playoffs. My overall lean is towards Boston winning this game on its home ice, but the way that Toronto has lit the lamp the past two games to ties this series 3-3, I am not betting on it.

Doc's Sports : We know how much all the hype surrounding the 2018 NFL Draft drives you crazy when there are actual games you can bet on right now in three other major sports leagues. However, we are also guessing that there may be a few prop bets for the festivities that have piqued your interest. If so, can you give us one of your top prop picks for this year's draft?

RE: My top play is the -115 betting odds that Mr. Irrelevant as the last pick of the 2018 NFL Draft will be an offensive player. I would go as far predicting that he will be a lineman or a fullback.

Doc's Sports: Across the broad spectrum of sports that you handicap on a regular basis, is there anything we missed this week on your current betting radar?

RE : I am not handicapping the Zurich Open this week in golf given the unique team format of this tournament, and there are no UFC fights and limited opportunities to bet on boxing. This is actually a good thing since I can begin my early prep work for handicapping next weekend's Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby at Churchill.

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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