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


by Docsports.com - 4/30/2019

James Harden Houston Rockets

Weekends do not get much bigger than the first one in May. Along with the ongoing NBA and NHL playoffs, huge events in boxing and horse racing are also on the board. This makes it the perfect time to check in with Doc's Sports Service's expert handicapper Raphael Esparza . Once known as the Vegas Sports Informer, he worked his way to the top of list during a long and successful run in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry. In 2013, he retired as the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Resorts' Aria.

Since then, Esparza has shifted his focus to running a successful sports investment business from his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. Whether you are looking for a big unit play in the second round of the NBA Playoffs or some prop bet picks for the next big Hollywood movie premier, his selection packages offer one of the widest arrays of options in the betting industry. Doc's always looks forward to a chance to pick his brain when it comes to the hottest trending betting topics on the board.

Doc's: The NBA Playoffs have gone chalk as expected with the top four seeds from each conference advancing to the next round. In light of some of the early results in the second round, are you sticking with the favorites in the next four best-of-seven matchups?

RE: Milwaukee might want to be concerned with its play in that Game 1 loss to Boston. If Houston can even the series against Golden State tonight, things could also get interesting in that No. 4 vs. No. 1 matchup. I do think that Toronto in the East and Denver in the West will prevail as No. 2 seeds.

Doc's: Turning to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, hardly anything has gone as planed with major upsets across the board in the opening round. Focusing mainly on the two current matchups in the Western Conference semifinal round, which two teams do you have advancing to the conference finals?

RE: The combination of experience and solid goaltending lean in San Jose's direction against Colorado and in St. Louis's favor against the Dallas Stars. Martin Jones for the Sharks continues to play at a high level since late in the series against Vegas, and Jordan Binnington has gone the distance for the Blues.

Doc's: When you have a horse race filled with 21 of the best three-year-old thoroughbreds in the game, starting position becomes a big factor for this Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The actual post positions have been drawn, so can you give us a few entries that should benefit the most from earning an advantageous post position in the expanded field?

RE: Omaha Beach is starting from a very favorable post at No. 12 as a 4/1 favorite on the morning line. One of my horses to watch is Win Win Win at 15/1 odds breaking out of the No. 14 post. You should also keep an eye on Game Winner (No. 16) and Roadster (No. 17) starting next to one another as two of the other top favorites to win.

Doc's: Saturday night's (or Sunday morning's) big betting event is the middleweight title fight in Las Vegas between Canelo Alverez and Daniel Jacobs. Can you give us some insight into the best way to cash a winning bet on this bout with Alverez listed as a heavy favorite?

RE: I would focus on the betting odds for a decision or the "over" on total rounds. I think this bout will go the distance. However, there is no real value betting Alverez at -400 or higher.

Doc's: There is no doubt that May will get a fast start out of the gate with all the betting action on the board this weekend. However, did we miss anything along the way that is also on your betting radar right now?

RE: As a great lead-in to the boxing on Saturday night, UFC Fight Night in Ottawa on ESPN+ offers a featured fight between Al Iaquinta and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. I like Cerrone in this one as a slight underdog.

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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