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


by Docsports.com - 5/14/2019

Damian Lillard Portland Blazers

It is a busy week at Doc's Sports Service with the start if the conference finals in the NBA playoffs along with the continuing conference finals in the NHL. Add in Thursday's opening round of action at Bethpage Black in this year's PGA Championship and Saturday's running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, and it is the perfect time to check in with expert sports handicapper Raphael Esparza . As a valued member of an extended team of expert handicappers at Doc's, he originally worked his way up the ranks during long and successful run in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. That career culminated in 2013 when he retired as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria.

These days, Raphael continues to run a highly-successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. From high-unit picks for all the major sports to pop culture props in the world of entertainment, his selection packages run the gambit for new and exciting ways to build a betting bankroll. On a weekly basis, Doc's gets the chance to cover the hottest trending betting topics on the board in a one-on-one interview.

Doc's: It is no big surprise that Milwaukee and Toronto will square off against one another in the NBA Eastern Finals as the two best teams in that conference. The Bucks are heavy favorites on the series price, but which team do you have winning Wednesday's best-of-seven series opener?

RE: I would have to lean towards the Bucks with very little wear and tear from their first two series. Beating Toronto in this series still hinges on the play of Milwaukee's bench, but I have the Bucks winning in six games.

Doc's: Golden State returns to conference finals in the West for the fifth season in a row. If you are betting the exact series result against the Portland Trail Blazers what would it be?

RE: The Warriors got past Houston in Game 6 without Kevin Durant, but there should still be some genuine concern with his injury in this series. I see this one dragging out to the full seven games with the Warriors winning 4-3.

Doc's: Turning to the two best-of-seven series in the NHL's conference finals, which two teams are you going with to meet in the Stanley Cup Finals?

RE: I think Boston should be able to wrap up its series against Carolina in five games with a split on the road and a win at home in Game 5. The series out West is going the full seven games, but I will take San Jose to advance with its third straight Game 7 win at home in this year's playoffs.

Doc's: Tiger Woods stunned the betting world with his recent win at Augusta National in the first Major of the year in professional golf. Heading into this week's PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, can you give us a few golfers that would be at the top of your betting list to win this Major?

RE: In an effort to stretch the odds a bit, I am looking at Justin Rose, Branden Grace and Patrick Reed as a few golfers to watch this week. You could add Francesco Molinari to that list given the way he has played in the last few Majors.

Doc's: The field is taking shape for Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course as the second jewel in this year's Triple Crown racing series. Improbable should open as the early favorite on the morning line coming off his recent fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. What are some of your early thoughts on how to bet this race?

RE: I do like Improbable in this race as the probable favorite (no pun intended), but I would also add Bourbon War to the mix as a fresh colt that did not run in the Kentucky Derby. I am also waiting for Wednesday's post positions to get a better read on Win Win Win and War of Will to see how they might best fit in the betting mix.

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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