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


by Doc's Sports - 1/30/2018

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Beau Allen

We are closing in on the start of Super Bowl LII as the biggest single-day sports betting event of the year. To help get you ready for all the action, we are turning to Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza to get his opinion on where the betting lines will move leading up to kickoff on Sunday as well as which props offer the best value on the board.

Once known primarily as the Vegas Sports Informer during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry, Raphael worked his way to the top of the ranks of expert sports handicappers while also holding the prestigious position as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria. He retired from that position in 2013, but 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: Last week we talked about the early money coming in on the underdog to the point where New England is favored by only four points against Philadelphia with a few sportsbooks in town. Where do you see the general spread for Super Bowl LII closing by the time they kick the ball off at US Bank Stadium this Sunday?

RE: I have seen some four-point spreads here and there, but my guess is that the line moves back up to five points by game time. A couple of six-figure bets on the Eagles helped fuel much of the early movement in what I would consider to be an overreaction by the public. I still expect the New England money to start picking up as we continue to get closer to kickoff.

Doc's Sports: There have been some early fluctuations with the total line for Super Bowl LII, but for the most part, 48 points appears to be the most common number on the board. Do you see the total line for the Super Bowl moving in either direction as we get closer to Sunday?

RE: We have not seen any big-money bets on the total line so far either with one of the Las Vegas books or offshore. That could change between now and Sunday, but there is nothing really pushing that number off 48 points right now.

Doc's Sports: Betting on props goes hand-in-hand with any Super Bowl, and we already know that you have a knack for finding a few betting options that may be a bit off the beaten path for this game. Can you give us your top betting pick for Super Bowl LII when it comes to the recent Justin Timberlake halftime props piece you wrote for Doc's?

RE: The prop I like the most is whether Justin Timberlake will start the halftime show in sneakers at -350. A suit with sneakers has become a very popular look among athletes and entertainers lately.

Doc's Sports : Staying with unique betting options for Sunday's game, you are also big on cross-sports props tying in some other sporting events on this weekend's slate. What did you come up with as your top cross-team props for this year's Super Bowl?

RE: Philly fans might want to look at going with the 76ers' Joel Embiid's total blocked shots in Saturday's game against Indiana verses Nick Foles' total touchdown passes at -120 odds for either play. I do like New England's total Super Bowl penalties at -150 verses the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights' total penalties in Sunday's road game against Washington at +130 odds.

Doc's Sports: Life goes on beyond the Super Bowl, and so does betting on sports in the first weekend of February. Is this anything else on your betting radar right now in addition to Sunday's game?

RE : This is actually a great weekend for sports betting given all the cross promoting with the Super Bowl that produces some great value in certain props. I will be locked-in to boxing from Texas on ESPN and UFC Fight Night in Brazil on Saturday night as well as some English Premier League matches all weekend long. Do not forget about the Puppy Bowl on Sunday with some posted odds for which side wins that matchup.

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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