Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 7/17/2019

by Docsports.com - 7/17/2019

The first few NFL training camps are opening this week in preparation for a new season of games. Doc's Sports Service is also busy preparing a full complement of football betting packages as a recognized leader and trusted name in the sports handicapping industry since 1971. Our expert team is the best in the sports betting business, including Raphael Esparza. The former Vegas Sports Informer worked his way to the top of 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.

Since stepping down from that prestigious title, he has stepped up his game by running a successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. From big-unit plays for every major sport to handicapping the Little League World Series, Esparza continues to run the gambit with his selection packages. Doc's gets the chance to pick his brain each week, covering some the hottest trending betting topics in the world of sports.

Doc's: One of the best ways to bet on MLB games is with a five-inning line as a true representation of the matchup on the mound between each team's starting pitchers. Do you have any insider tips on how to make the most of this type of MLB betting option?

RE: I tend to focus on the total line for a five inning bet. If you have a couple of No. 1 starters on the mound, I am leaning towards the "under" even on a low number. If you have a struggling starter much deeper in the rotation pitching on the road, it could set up a value play on the "over".

Doc's: We all know that you are a huge horse racing fan. The big event on this Saturday's race card at Monmouth Park is the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational for three-year old thoroughbreds. The official field is still coming together with Maximum Security and Everfast highlighting the probable list of entries. Do you have any early thoughts on how to bet this race?

RE: Maximum Security should open as the morning line favorite in a field that will probably have just seven horses. Track conditions could be a factor with hot and very humid weather in the forecast for the entire East Coast. That is why I will not dig too deep into this race until Saturday afternoon.

Doc's: Professional golf's final Major of the season gets underway with Thursday's opening round of the 2019 Open Championship in Northern Ireland. Local favorite Rory McIlroy has the best odds to win, but can you give us a few golfers ranking high on your list in betting value this week?

RE: There is a chance that rain and wind could be a factor over the weekend. This would add value to McIlroy as a favorite playing in conditions he is more than used to. You always have to add Brooks Koepka to the mix given his recent track record in Majors and I do like the longer 30/1 odds for Rickie Fowler.

Doc's: The big MMA fight on this Saturday's UFC Fight Night card on ESPN from San Antonio is a welterweight battle between Rafael Dos Anjos and Leon Edwards. Do you have any early thoughts on how to bet on this matchup with such close betting odds?

RE: There are a number of close matchups on that card. For that particular fight, Edwards caught my eye as an up and coming fighter, but this one is too close to call. Turning to boxing, I am really interested to see how Manny Pacquiao looks against Keith Thurman in Saturday's upcoming bout.

Doc's: You are usually working on something that is pretty far off the radar for the averaging bettor. What would be at the top of the list this week?

RE: This year's Emmy Awards nominations were just released, but that is still too far off in the horizon as is the latest Star Wars movie premiering at the end of 2019. I will start taking a closer look at next month's WWE SummerSlam from Toronto on Aug. 11. Fortunately, there is enough going on in the realm of mainstream sports to still keep me busy.

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.

Pick:	CHICAGO BEARS +3
Start:	November 24, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #256 Chicago Bears +3 over Minnesota Vikings (1p.m., Sunday, November 24 FOX) We used the Bears as a free play winner last Sunday and easily covered the spread and should have been an underdog outright winner. Now we will ride them for a second straight week against another NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are 8-2 on the season, yet are only around a field goal favorite. I still do not trust Sam Donald to win consistently over the course of a 17 game regular season. Minnesota is not as good as their 8-2 record would indicate and playing outdoors in Chicago on Sunday will cause issues for them on both sides of the ball. Chicago has been hit or miss this season, but they will be up to play another divisional rival and we expect them to take this down to the wire as well. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend Card featuring top plays in college and NFL football. Read More Read Less

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

Most Recent Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping