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


by Doc's Sports - 5/15/2018

David Perron Vegas Golden Knights

The conference finals in both the NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, and horse bettors have turned their attention to this Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. However, the biggest story this week is a recent US Supreme Court ruling that could pave the way for legalized sports betting in certain parts of the county in the not too distant future. Doc's Sports will cover all of these topics and more in this week's discussion with expert handicapper Raphael Esparza .

During a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry, Raphael also rose through the ranks to become one of the best sports handicappers in the nation. Once known in national betting circles as the Vegas Sports Informer, he held the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria at the peak of his sportsbook career. These days, he continues 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 had previously discussed a favorable decision by the Supreme Court for sports betting in the US as part of New Jersey's ongoing court battle against the Federal Government. In your opinion, what will be the long-term ramifications for offshore sportsbooks and private bookies as more and more states begin to offer legalized sports betting?

RE: Private bookies will always survive given their willingness to extend credit to their sports bettors. The top online sportsbooks like Bovada , 5Dimes and BetOnline will also remain major players in the sports betting industry given their ability to adapt to individual state laws to legally take action in the US. They will also be able to provide far more betting options than books such as MGM and William Hill, who are currently set up as the primary books operating in New Jersey.

Doc's Sports: Turning to the games we can bet on right now, we agreed that Boston was being undervalued by the sportsbooks in its recent series against Philadelphia and now in the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland. Would you go with the Celtics as your series pick following their dominating win in Game 1?

RE: I cannot see Boston shooting that ball that well in Game 2 let alone over the course of the entire series. I also cannot see LeBron James being held in check like he was in Game 1. Even with that loss in the series opener, I would still go with Cleveland in six games.

Doc's Sports: Golden State served notice that it is ready to make another NBA title run with its double-digit victory against Houston in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday night. Can Houston bounce back on Wednesday to salvage a 1-1 split on its home court?

RE: The reason why Golden State is so good is its unselfish play. I am not saying that the Warriors are going to sweep the Rockets with Houston in position to win Game 2 at home, but my "best bet" after watching Game 1 is Golden State in five games.

Doc's Sports : The Vegas Golden Knights remain slight series favorites to keep their amazing run going all the way to the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals with a big win last night against Winnipeg on the road. That series is now tied 1-1 with the next two games in your backyard. How do you see these next two games playing out?

RE: I would go big on Vegas in Game 3, especially with some of the early money on the Jets driving down the Golden Knights' moneyline odds. Game 4 could be a toss up given Winnipeg's ability to score goals in bunches, but I have Vegas taking the 2-1 edge on Wednesday night coming off that big win in Game 2.

Doc's Sports: The head-to-head rematch between Justify and Good Magic is the top storyline for this Saturday's Preakness Stakes after this pair of three-year old thoroughbreds finished one-two in the Kentucky Derby. Does Good Magic have what it takes to end Justify's Triple Crown bid in Saturday's main event at Pimlico?

RE : The overall field for the Preakness is stronger than I expected with Lone Sailor and Bravazo coming in as two other Kentucky Derby horses. Quip is another entry that could make things interesting after finishing second to Magnum Moon in the Arkansas Derby. As far as a head-to-head matchup between the two best colts in the Preakness field, I would still go with Justify over Good Magic in what should be another good battle over the 1 3/16 miles of dirt at Pimlico.

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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