Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

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


by Docsports.com - 3/12/2019

Washington Huskies guard Matisse Thybulle

Championship Week at Doc's Sports Service is one of the best betting events of the year leading up to the annual NCAA Tournament. One of our top expert handicappers for the past several years has been Raphael Esparza, especially when it comes to making money betting on college basketball. Once known in betting circles as the Vegas Sports Informer, he worked his way to the top of that list during a long and successful run in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. That career came to a close in 2013 as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria.

Esparza continues to run a successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. Big unit winners in college basketball is just part of the mix with one of the widest arrays of selection packages in the sports betting industry. Each week, Doc's gets the chance to pick his brain covering some the hottest trending betting topics in the world of sports.

Doc's: Championship Week puts all of the top college basketball teams to the test in their individual conference tournament. Can you give us a few teams that need a strong showing over the next several days to earn a spot in the 68-team field for this year's NCAA Tournament?

RE: You can put the entire Pac-12 at the top of that list. Washington is the only team that should be in the NCAA Tournament, but even that is far from being a lock. Oklahoma in the Big 12 needs a big week as does St. John's in the Big East. An early exit by Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament could send the Hoosiers to the NIT.

Doc's: The futures odds posted to win a number of conference tournaments point to a tight battle between the top three or four teams on the list. The Big 12 could fall into that category with Texas Tech, Kansas State and Kansas at the top of the board. Which team do you have winning this conference tournament?

RE: I believe the best value is with Texas Tech as a plus-money, +140 favorite. I actually see Kansas as overvalued at +400 given some of the Jayhawks' issues in the regular season.

Doc's: The Mountain West has always been one of your top betting conferences. Nevada was really high on the list at one time, but it dropped a pair of late-season games, including a five-point loss to Utah State earlier this month. What is you outlook for this week's tournament.?

RE: I would still go with the Wolf Pack as the best MWC team. However, the gap between Nevada and a few of the other contending teams is not as wide as it used to be. San Diego State or Fresno State could really throw a monkey wrench into things if either team wins this tournament.

Doc's: The Oakland Raiders made the first big splash in the NFL offseason by trading for wide receiver Antonio Brown. How do you see things playing out with this move given Jon Gruden as his new head coach?

RE: The relationship with Gruden is one thing. I am more interested to see how this deal impacts other high-profile players that are also unhappy with their current situation. Brown is going to need a really big season to justify his actions in how this whole situation played out.

Doc's: We know that college basketball is at the top of the list for sports bettors right now, but what else is on your betting radar this week?

RE: Boxing is big this weekend with some great bouts on FOX's Pay Per View card this Saturday as well as on ESPN+ this Sunday. I will also be dialed into Oaklawn Park this Saturday for the running of the Rebel Stakes. Track issues shutting down Santa Anita Park are already having a major impact on the 2019 Kentucky Derby prep schedule.

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.

Most Recent Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers