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


by Docsports.com - 11/12/2019

LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow

November is one of the biggest months of the year for betting on sports, and Doc's Sports Service has you covered with a wide selection of weekly and monthly selection packages. Expert handicapper Raphael Esparza is a big part of the team at Doc's. Known for covering a wide array of betting options, the former Vegas Sports Informer has made a name for himself for his big unit wins.

Year's back, he made a name for himself in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry all the way up to 2013 when he stepped down as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria.

Since then, Esparza has shifted all of his time and effort to running a successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. Each and every week on the sports betting calendar. Doc's gets the unique opportunity to pick his brain on some of the hottest trending topics in the world of sports.

Doc's: Last Saturday in college football, LSU won the big showdown against Alabama in the SEC while the Big Ten's Penn State Nittany Lions suffered a stunning loss to Minnesota. Seeing how each of these games shook up the latest College Football Rankings, how would you update your personal Top 5 list of teams?

RE: You would have to move LSU to the top of the list as the No. 1 team in the nation. I have Ohio State at No. 2 followed by Clemson at No. 3. You may think I am a homer for the Pac-12, but I am moving Oregon to No. 4 followed by Alabama. I added an asterisk to Minnesota at 9-0. The Golden Gophers should definitely be a top four team if they win out and beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.

Doc's: Moving to the NFL, New England lost last week to Baltimore and New Orleans was stunned by Atlanta this past Sunday as the leading favorites from each conference to meet in Super Bowl LIV. Reshuffling the deck in pro football, can you give us your top betting matchup to face one another in the NFL title game?

RE: The Baltimore Ravens' bandwagon is taking on some serious weight, but the road to Super Bowl LIV still goes through New England in the AFC. The NFC has tightened up with a few upsets the past few weeks, but that conference title should still be decided between New Orleans and Green Bay. My lean is still towards the Saints.

Doc's: Once football in the US got underway, the CFL fell off the radar for most national handicappers. Staying true to your reputation as one of the most well-rounded handicapping experts, you continued to release CFL plays. Looking ahead to this Sunday's division finals, which two CFL teams do you have moving on to meet in the Grey Cup title game on Nov. 24?

RE: There were a pair of big upsets by the road team in Sunday's divisional semifinals, but I am going chalk this week in the CFL. Pencil in a Hamilton vs. Saskatchewan matchup in this season's Grey Cup Championship.

Doc's: Fast starts for both Kentucky and Duke have those two college basketball national powers at the top of the early rankings. Can you give a few of your early impressions of the new season from a betting standpoint?

RE: I was impressed with North Carolina in early play in what should be another great race with Duke to the ACC title. I am also intrigued with the situation at Memphis. The NCAA has declared James Wiseman ineligible. This guy is the potential No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, so it will be very interesting to see how everything plays out.

Doc's: We already know that you are not the biggest NASCAR fan in the world, but do you have any thoughts on how to bet this Sunday's Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the Ford EcoBoost 400?

RE: While I have not been following the Cup Series all that closely this year, a handicapping buddy of mine says that Martin Truex Jr. is the driver to beat in Sunday's four-driver field. He does have the most wins this year with three of seven coming in the playoff, so that pick does makes sense to me.

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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