Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 8/6/2019

by Docsports.com - 8/6/2019

Football is back on the betting board, and Doc's Sports Service is busy getting ready for a new season in the college ranks and the NFL. One of Doc's most successful national handicappers is also getting ready for another winning run. Raphael Esparza worked his way to the top of that list during a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. That career culminated in 2013 with him holding the prestigious title of Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria.

He has been able to use that valuable experience to focus on running a very successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. Big unit winners for all the major sports join prop bet picks on blockbuster movie premiers in his varied selection packages offered through Docs. The following weekly Q&A offers his keen insight into the hottest trending betting topics in the world of sports and beyond.

Doc's: The two closest division races in baseball are the AL Central and the NL Central. Starting in the American League, both the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians are playing extremely well right now, but which one wins this division crown?

RE: These two teams meet in Cleveland this weekend for an extended four-game series. The outcome of this series could go a long way towards determining how this race pans out over the rest of the season. My lean is still towards the Twins with the hotter bats.

Doc's: It remains a tight three-team race for the top spot in the NL Central. Your Chicago Cubs are holding the slim lead heading into this week's action. Can they hold off the St. Louis Cardinals, and to a lesser extent, the Milwaukee Brewers in that division race?

RE: The Cubs' inability to consistently win on the road could be their downfall in this race. Chicago kicks off an extended 10-game road trip this Thursday in what could be a make-or-break stretch for this team. I would probably rule the Brewers out of the division title race to make this a two-team battle against the Cardinals.

Doc's: A new season of college football gets under way on Saturday, Aug 24, with a full slate of games the following weekend. Have any of the Week 1 games with posted betting lines caught your early interest?

RE: Kentucky was the surprise team in the SEC last season, but that roster was drained of talent with the loss of quite a few veteran players. The Wildcats open up against Toledo as 12-point home favorites, but I would lean towards the Rockets as one of the top teams in the MAC. I am also interested in Northwestern on the road against Stanford in what I would call the "Brain Game." I would lay the 6.5 points on the Cardinal at home.

Doc's: Turning to this upcoming Sunday's WWE Summer Slam, do you have any thoughts on this year's card in light of the posted odds at MyBookie sportsbook for each of the bouts?

RE: There are quite a few close matches on the card to keep things really interesting. I think the women are going to steal the show on Sunday with a trio of great matchups. Becky Lynch would be at the top of my list as a -260 favorite against Natalya. On the men's side, you have Brock Lesnar as a -280 favorite going up against Seth Rollins. You even have Goldberg on the card as a prohibitive -450 favorite against Dolph Ziggler.

Doc's: It is another big weekend of horse racing coast-to-coast along with some Saturday cards for boxing and the UFC. What are you looking at for a few value bets this weekend?

RE: Growing up in the Midwest, the Arlington Million was always a notable summer stakes race at Arlington Park. I am waiting for this Saturday's field to come together to start handicapping that event. Boxing is rather quiet this weekend, but the UFC Fight Night matchup on Saturday between Mike Perry, as my top play, against Vicente Luque, should be a good one.

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

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