Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

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


by Doc's Sports - 3/13/2018

Kansas Jayhawks Guard Devonte' Graham

One of the biggest sports betting events of the year gets underway this week as the highlight of March Madness. In this discussion with Doc's Sports expert Raphael Esparza, it is all about the 2018 NCAA Tournament as we get his take on how he sees things playing out on a region-by-region basis.

As one of the best sports handicappers in the nation, Raphael was able to hone his skills during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. The former Vegas Sports Informer also rose through the ranks in that industry to hold the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until his retirement in 2013. He continues to split his time between his home base in 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: The ACC's Virginia Cavaliers are the top team in the nation and the No. 1 seed in the South Region. Potential pitfalls to finally break through with a run to a national title could come from No. 4 Arizona early in the tournament and No. 2 Cincinnati in the Elite 8. Do you have the Cavaliers in your Final Four?

RE: I have Virginia as first No. 1 seed out of the tournament. If a team like Creighton can push an up-tempo style of play, it can cause some problems in a possible second-round matchup. My lean is towards Arizona in the South, with one big caveat. The Wildcats need to play like they did in the Pac-12 Tournament, which was dominant to say the least.

Doc's Sports: Jumping across the bracket to the East where the 2016 NCAA Champion Villanova Wildcats come into this year's tournament as the top seed in that region. You have been high on the Wildcats all season long as one of the best-balanced teams in the nation. Does Villanova earn a spot in your Final Four given the competition it will have to face in this region?

RE: Villanova is my only No. 1 seed in the Final Four. I have been touting the Wildcats all season long, and I just do not see another team in that region derailing their run to an East Region title.

Doc's Sports: Most college basketball experts believe that top-seeded Xavier in the West Region will face the toughest challenge to get to the Final Four out of all the No. 1 seeds. How do you see this region playing out over the course of this tournament?

RE: I do not have Xavier in my Final Four, but the Musketeers could stick around longer than most people expect. The team I am riding in this region is the Michigan Wolverines after their strong showing in the recent Big Ten Tournament.

Doc's Sports : Kansas is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest with a good possibility of facing either No. 3 Michigan State or No. 2 Duke in the Elite Eight. Do you have this region going chalk, or is there another team waiting in the wings to bust this section of the bracket?

RE: Kansas could struggle to get into the Elite Eight with some interesting matchups along the way. Even if the Jayhawks do survive long enough to play in the region title game, I have Duke knocking off Kansas to round-out my picks for this year's Final Four.

Doc's Sports: There are any number of ways to bet on the NCAA Tournament from bracket contests, futures odds and props as well as on the individual games themselves. What are some of your favorite ways to bet on all the madness that March has to offer?

RE : Betting head-to-head games is always fun. When it comes to betting futures, I believe the best value is in the odds to win each region. I really like Michigan at +300 as one of my top region futures picks. Another fun way to bet this tournament is head-to-head prop bet odds for total team wins. Right now, I am leaning towards Villanova over Kansas at -200, and I am jumping on the Wildcats at -130 to have more tournament victories than Virginia.

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 .

Most Recent Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers