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


by Docsports.com - 7/10/2019

Rudy Gobert Utah Jazz

There is a reason why Doc's Sports Service has earned the reputation as a recognized leader and trusted name in the sports handicapping industry since 1971. A big part of that success can be attributed to a long-standing working relationship with some of the best sports-minded expert handicappers in the nation. One of the "best of the best" is Raphael Esparza, who worked his way to the top of list during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. That career came to an end in 2013 when he retired as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria.

The former Vegas Sports Informer turned all of his attention to running a 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 all the major sports to pop culture props in the world of entertainment and politics, his selection packages span one of widest arrays of betting options you will ever find. Each and every week, Doc's gets the opportunity to pick his brain on some the hottest trending betting topics.

Doc's: We have been covering some rather dramatic player movement in the NBA since the start of free agency on July 1. With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joining the LA Clippers in the latest round of moves, is this Los Angeles team a legitimate favorite to win next year's NBA title?

RE: The smoke has yet to really clear from all the deals that did go down. Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook could still be in play over the next few weeks. The betting odds for the 2020 NBA title are completely reactionary so it is hard to determine where the best value lies. I sill like Denver and Utah in West and Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the East as my top-valued teams right now.

Doc's: Staying with the NBA's Summer League in Las Vegas, do you find any value in these games from a betting standpoint, or do you take a pass from a handicapping point of view?

RE: I know that the betting board is rather thin this week with the MLB All-Star break, but the NBA Summer League is not a viable alternative from a betting standpoint. My only interest in the games was watching Zion Williamson in his debut for New Orleans.

Doc's: The CFL is the only game in town for starved football bettors looking for some action on an actual game. Do you have any thoughts on how to bet Saturday's inter-division showdown between the Calgary Stampeders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as two of the better teams in the league?

RE: The line on that game has not been released yet, but I like the Tiger-Cats as probable small home favorites. I am not sold on Calgary just yet with quarterback issues and Hamilton will be looking to bounce back form last week's bad loss in Montreal.

Doc's: We have talked about MLB teams turning to the upcoming trade deadline on July 31 to add a few missing pieces to a potential World Series title run. Early in the process, which teams would be high on your list to make the most noise as the month wears on?

RE: I would put both the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top of the list in search of some help to seal their spot as the best team in each league. The Washington National could be buyers after closing the gap with Atlanta in the NL East. The most interesting storyline leading up to the trade deadline is the NL Central where just 4.5 games separate all five teams.

Doc's: The sports betting slate tends to really quiet down in early July, but is there anything on this week's betting radar that has caught your eye?

RE: Along with a decent card for Saturday's UFC Fight Night on ESPN+, I am also excited about of number of major graded events on Saturday's horse racing card at Del Mar on the West Coast and at Saratoga in upstate New York. Do not forget about Sunday's WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view event for professional wrestling in Philadelphia.

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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