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


by Docsports.com - 4/23/2019

Bryn Forbes San Antonio Spurs

Heading into the final full week of April, the NBA and NHL playoffs along with the first month of MLB regular season games are the hot topics at Doc's Sports Service when it comes to betting on the games. As a valued member of our extended team of expert sports handicappers, Raphael Esparza continues to crank out the winners with a few of his high-unit plays. He worked his way up the ranks and to the top of the 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 now runs a very successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. His wide array of betting selections are not just limited to sports as a top handicapper and Oddsmaker for pop culture props. Doc's relishes the weekly chance to pick his brain for insight into the hottest trending betting topics in the world of sports.

Doc's: The most competitive opening round series in the NBA is the No. 7 San Antonio Spurs against the No. 2 Denver Nuggets. Heading into Tuesday's Game 5 in Denver with the series tied 2-2, which team do you have eventually moving on to the next round?

RE: I had the Spurs from the start and I still see San Antonio winning two of the next three games. The two big intangibles in this series are playoff experience and coaching.

Doc's: We would both agree that there is nothing more exciting than a Game 7 in a NHL playoff series. With two Game 7's on tap for Tuesday night (Toronto at Boston and Vegas at San Jose), which two teams would you bet on to win?

RE: Since I have released a play for each game, I am not going to make an actual prediction. However, Boston has the edge playing this game at home and I cannot see San Jose goalie Martin Jones matching his high level of play in the last two games.

Doc's: Dogged by slower than expected starts, which MLB team is in more trouble over the long haul; the Boston Red Sox in the AL East or the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central?

RE: When it comes to each team's chances to still win their division, I would go with Boston in light of New York's injury situation. I see Tampa Bay fading over the second half to help pave the way. Chicago has a much tougher road to the top of the NL Central even if it was playing to form.

Doc's: Do you have any betting thoughts on this Saturday's UFC Fight Night on ESPN highlighted by the middleweight fight between Jacare Souza as a -190 favorite and Jack Hermansson?

RE: This card has changed so many times due to various factors, but I would still go with the favorite against what appears to be a hand-picked opponent to help Souza rack up a win.

Doc's: We already know that you think the NFL is way overhyped, but there has to be at least one or two draft props that have piqued your interest. Can you give us one bold prediction for this Thursday's first round selections?

RE: My top pick would be the "over" 15.5 on total defensive players taken in the first round. There are just too many good players on the board from that side of the ball. As a bonus pick, I am also going defense/punter for Mr. Irrelevant as the final pick of the 2019 draft.

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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