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

The College World Series best-of-three championship tilt between Oregon State and Arkansas gets underway on Tuesday night following Monday's Game 1 rainout, and the 2018 World Cup moves on to the Round of 16 this weekend. While the first half of the MLB regular season rapidly comes to a close, the first few weeks of the CFL 2018 schedule are officially in the books. All this betting action sets the stage for this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza.

Once known as the Vegas Sports Informer during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry, this is where Raphael first made a name for himself as one of the best sports handicappers in the nation. He went on to assume the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria until his retirement from the sportsbook industry in 2013. Since then, he has continued to split his 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: We know that the College World Series was high on your list of betting events for June. Now that the tournament is down to the last two teams in the best-of-three championship series, are you still leaning towards Arkansas to win it all?

RE: Monday's rainout had a big impact on the starting rotation that each team can use in this championship series to shift the pitching edge in favor of the Razorbacks. Both teams have been putting the ball in play and scoring runs, but I would still give them that slight edge in that department as well. The biggest reason why I am going with Arkansas in this series is the tougher level of competition it had to get past this season in the SEC.

Doc's Sports: Along with the CWS, we have been talking about your top teams to win the 2018 World Cup title. With the final 16 teams taking aim at one another in the Knockout Stage, are there any surprises in the field that could make a legitimate run at a few of the favorites?

RE: I would put Mexico at the top of the list at longer odds to win after posting important victories against Germany and South Korea. You could also make a case for Senegal as a true long shot, but that would be a reach.

Doc's Sports: The Seattle Mariners in the American League and the Atlanta Braves in the National League have been two of the best betting teams on the MLB moneyline this season. What are your thoughts on each team staying hot into the second half of the schedule?

RE: When it comes to the second half of the MLB regular season, I am always interested to see which teams make the biggest splash at the trade deadline. Any team making a few solid moves for a playoff run will get my attention at the betting window. Seattle could try and make a few moves with Houston setting the pace in the AL West. However, I see Atlanta holding rather firm with the pitchers it has on its staff or the hitters it has in its lineup in its quest to win the NL East.

Doc's Sports: You have been right on the money with your first two free CFL picks for Doc's Sports. Which of the nine teams in the league have you been most impressed with from a betting standpoint through the first two weeks of the regular season?

RE: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats would be at the top of my list given how they have played in a pair of tough road games against the West Division. They should have covered against Calgary in Week 1 in a game that was much closer than the final score. Hamilton's straight-up win against Edmonton last week automatically makes it the team to watch in the East.

Doc's Sports: There are a handful of states that plan to have some form legal sports betting up and running before the start of the new football season, including New Jersey and Mississippi in their casinos and racetracks. By this time next year it has been estimated that there could be as many as 20 states on this list offering legal sports betting. What kind of impact, if any, do you think this will have on the established Las Vegas sportsbook industry?

RE: Over time it could have an impact on the Las Vegas books, but I still believe that this will remain the sports betting capital of the world. Avid sports bettors are still going to come to town for the Super Bowl and NCAA Basketball Tournament. The Las Vegas books should also be able to maintain their edge given the high tax rates that some of these other states are placing on their proposed sports betting outlets.