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


by Docsports.com - 10/15/2019

Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard

The month of October presses on as things heat up in a number of professional leagues. Doc's Sports Service is also heating up with a few high-unit winners for the games. Part of that mix is expert handicapper Raphael Esparza with his winning plays. His Las Vegas sportsbook career was highlighted as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria until retiring from the industry in 2013.

As one of the nation's top sports handicappers, Esparza has been running a successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. His selection packages offer a broad range of betting options from this Sunday's top NFL matchups to solid betting picks for horse racing's biggest events. Every Tuesday, Doc's gets the unique opportunity to gain his insight into the hottest trending topics in the world of sports.

Doc's: In a pair of "that is why they play the game" upsets, this year's NLCS best-of-seven series features the Washington Nationals against the St. Louis Cardinals. Washington remains white-hot in the playoffs with a commanding 3-0 series lead against the Cardinals. Can the Nationals pull off the ultimate upset if they make it to the World Series against either the New York Yankees or the Houston Astros?

RE: They always say to stick with a hot team. I do have Washington sweeping the NLCS against St. Louis with a Game 4 win. I also have the ALCS matchup between the Yankees and Astros going at least six games to give the Nationals' starting rotation a bit more rest as an added plus.

Doc's: Rarely do you see a NFL head coach go so far out on a limb as to predict a victory in their team's next game. Philadelphia Eagles' head coach Doug Pederson has really dialed up the pressure on his 3-3 ball club by doing just that for Sunday night's road game against bitter NFC East rival Dallas. How would you react to this bold move from a betting standpoint?

RE: I do not see the point of giving any opposing NFL team any extra motivation, especially in a bitter division rivalry. I would actually be more concerned with the Eagles' defense in this game to give Dallas the slight lean against the spread.

Doc's: You have been vocal in the past about the bias towards the SEC in college football. It appears that Georgia's stunning upset at the hands of unranked South Carolina has actually boosted the stature of the LSU Tigers as the No. 2 team in the latest AP Top 25 (they moved to No. 3 on the Coaches Poll). The Tigers are coming off a big win against Florida, but is this big a jump in either national poll justified?

RE: While that was a really bad loss by Georgia to tarnish the overall SEC power rankings a bit, you do have to give LSU all the credit in the world for the win against Florida. The main reason I do not get caught up in the national rankings this time of the year is all the big showdowns that have yet to be played.

Doc's: There are two head-to-head matchups on Saturday for Week 8 between nationally ranked teams in the Pac-12. First, you have No. 12 Oregon on the road as a three-point favorite against No. 25 Washington in the Pac-12 North. Next, the No. 17 Arizona State Sun Devils take on the No. 13 Utah Utes in a huge showdown in the Pac-12 South, with Utah set as a 13.5-point home favorite. How would you bet either of these two games?

RE: I think that Oregon is the real deal in the Pac-12 North this season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. My bet in that game would be on the Ducks covering. As far as the South Division battle, I do not trust Arizona State in a game this big. Utah should be able to win and cover with relative ease.

Doc's: Jumping ahead a bit, when it comes to next Tuesday's doubleheader of season openers in the NBA, which game are you more interested in watching; New Orleans on the road against Toronto in Zion Williamson's league debut or the battle in Los Angeles between the Lakers and the Clippers ?

RE: Given my closer ties to New Orleans, I would have to put this game at the top of the list. Zion has definitely created a buzz in town, so it will be interesting to see just how far he can carry the Pelicans this season. As far as the two Los Angeles teams, I still have the Clippers as the better all-around team.

 

 

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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