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


by Docsports.com - 8/20/2019

University of Miami Hurricanes Quarterback Jarren Williams

The first college football games of the new season are on the board for Saturday night, and Doc's Sports Service is ready to go with a number of different selection packages featuring some of the top expert handicappers in the nation. Raphael Esparza earned his spot on that list during a long and successful run in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. That career culminated in 2013 as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria.

The former Vegas Sports Informer is staying as busy as ever these days with a very successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. From big-unit plays for the new college football season to top prop picks for a number of different betting options outside the world of sports, his selection packages span one of widest arrays you will ever find. Doc's continues our weekly dialog to gain his insight into the hottest trending betting topics in the world of sports.

Doc's: The ACC's Miami Hurricanes and the SEC's Florida Gators are each considered to be one of the better teams this season in their respective conferences. The Gators are seven-point neutral-site favorites for Saturday's matchup in Orlando. So, how do you see this game playing out?

RE: I probably will not release a play on this game, but I do see a good defensive battle that should keep the scoring low. The total opened at 50 and it is down to 47.5 points at most books. Yet, there is still some value in the "under" for this one.

Doc's: You have produced a plus return on your CFL picks through the first half of that season. Heading into Week 11, is there any one particular matchup that has caught your eye?

RE: The top storyline is Winnipeg on the road against Edmonton without its starting quarterback. Only one game separates the two teams atop the West Division standings. From a betting standpoint, I would go with the under 55 points in Sunday's Montreal at Toronto game. That could be a gift given just how bad Toronto is on offense this year.

Doc's: Week 3 of the NFL Preseason should feature the most playing time for each team's starters. Are there any matchups on this slate that would rank as 'must see' TV?

RE: It was really tough coming up with two plays for last week's games. Teams are far more concerned with staying healthy than giving their starters any meaningful playing time. I would go with New England as a 3.5-point home favorite against Carolina just because the Patriots are so deep in talent.

Doc's: Baseball tends to take a backseat with bettors once football is back on the board. Do you have any betting tips for MLB games during the final push for the postseason?

RE: Since it is so hard to find any value in playoff contenders facing teams riding out the string, stick with betting on the games that mean something to both teams. There are still three good division races going on along with more than enough NL teams fighting for a wild card spot to find some meaningful matchups on the board.

Doc's: Saratoga Race Course is the place to be this Saturday with a full card of major graded stakes races headlined by the running of the 2019 Travers Stakes. Do you have any early thoughts on how to bet this race as Saturday's field continues to take shape?

RE: Weather can be a huge factor in big races like the Travers, so I am always keeping an eye to the sky right up until post time. As far as the actual field, the top two favorites, Tacitus and Code of Honor, should finish in the money. If Global Campaign does run this race, he offers some solid value at longer odds.

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 do not even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit for any sports Esparza handicaps. Click here for $60 worth of free picks from Raphael Esparza.

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