Docs Website

54 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Raphael Esparza (VSI)

Page Updated October 30, 2026 @ 10:24 AM CST
Raphael Esparza (VSI)

Member Notes

Former Vegas Sports Book Director has you covered with daily selections from NFL, College Football, NBA, MLB, NHL Hockey, College Basketball, CFL, English Premier League, Champions League and Major League Soccer. Don't forget my MMA/Boxing weekend plays as well.

Big Friday Betting Card in all Sports

NBA: 6U Play

SOCCER: 3U Liga MX Play

HORSES: (2) Breeders Cup Races

Football

CFB Saturday 6-Unit Play

FB Run 5-Unit or Higher 10-5 $3,110

Football 5 out 7 Winning Weeks

LY 8-Unit NFL Total GOTY Winner

LY 7-Unit CFB Bowl GOTY Winner

2 out 4 Winning Football Seasons

BUY NOW


NBA

NBA Friday 6-Unit Play

NBA Wednesday 4-Unit Winner

2 out 4 Winning Seasons

BUY NOW


NHL

NHL Friday No Play

NHL Thursday 3-Unit Winner

LY Winning Season $5,735

LY Playoff Run $2,510

6 out 10 Winning Seasons

BUY NOW


Soccer

Friday 3-Unit French Ligue 1 Play

Tuesday 4-Unit Serie A Winner

Soccer 5U+ Run 10-5 $2,820

2024 Winning Soccer Season $4,590

2022 Men's WC Soccer Tournament $1,050

2019 WWC Soccer Tournament 18-6 $5,960

BUY NOW


Horse Racing

Breeders Cup Friday (2) Races

Last Month (Sun) Horse Racing $219

2026 Black Eyed Susan Stakes Winner

2025 Kentucky Derby Day +$700

2025 Belmont Stakes Winner $429

Horse Racing Plays $25

BUY NOW


Daily Props

Friday No Daily Prop Play

Sunday 6-Unit NFL Daily Prop Winner

All Daily Props $25

2022 Daily Props $2,620

BUY NOW


MMA / Boxing

Saturday 6-Unit UFC 333 Winner

UFC/MMA Run 24-7 $9,970

UFC 332 7U Winner

UFC Vegas 121 6U Winner

UFC 331 8U FOTY Winner

UFC NOCHE 6U Winner

UFC Paris 7-Unit Winner ($770)

UFC White House 8-Unit Winner

UFC 300 8-Unit Winner

BUY NOW


College BB

CBB Starts Tuesday November 1

2023-24 Winning CBB Season $3,720

2023-24 CBB Totals $8,870

5 out 7 Winning Seasons

BUY NOW


WNBA

WNBA Playoff No Thursday

5U or Higher WNBA Plays 13-6 $4,020

WNBA 8-Unit WNBA GOTY Winner

LY WNBA Playoffs 10-2 $4,010

10 out 16 Winning WNBA Seasons

BUY NOW


Articles by Raphael Esparza (VSI)

Raphael Esparza (VSI)'s BIO

Raphael Esparza (VSI)

One Man, One Handicapper, The Vegas Sports Informer

The biggest mystery in professional sports handicapping has been revealed! Raphael Esparza, aka the Vegas Sports Informer, has come clean as the man behind one of the most successful and most consistent handicapping records in the country.

Raphael Esparza has over 14 years of experience as a sportsbook manager at four of the biggest, most well known sportsbooks on the Vegas Strip. His position has given him contacts and access to the sharpest lines and action in the industry, and he has used that to help his clients earn a ridiculous amount of cash over the last several years. Raphael is one of the first handicappers to get the dirt on anything from injuries and suspensions to soft lines and late line movements. And he uses this info to stay one step ahead of the general betting public.

Big Unit Results - 5U or Higher

Since 8/28: 5U or Higher $7,500

September 5U or Higher Plays $4,655

LY October 5U or Higher $9,615 (all sports)

5U Plays 2024 Results $5,030

2023 Big Unit Plays $11,500

The well-connected Esparza has more than 18 years of sports handicapping experience and has spent the last seven years with Doc's Sports as The Vegas Sports Informer. Raphael literally set and adjusted the lines at some of the biggest books in Las Vegas so no one has a better understand of how the sportsbooks operate than him.

Raphael's success stems from his power ratings and thousands of trends personally tracked over many years. These have proven to be winners time and time again.

Esparza, an Indiana native, has been one of the most consistent moneymakers in the industry. He is generally considered to be the best NBA handicapper in the country thanks to a remarkable seven consecutive winning seasons. That includes an amazing $10,000 in profit for $100-per-Unit bettors last season alone and Raphael is going to keep the streak alive this winter.

Q: In 3 sentences or less, explain as an expert how you prepare for your weekly best bets for the upcoming NFL Picks and College Football Picks seasons?

A: I spend most of the time researching teams (both NFL & College) offense/defense coaching staffs and schemes. Playing totals is a big part of my gambling plays so I'm always researching everything/anything on how teams are preparing for their upcoming seasons.

Also, follow me on Twitter at @VSIdocsports.

Getting the inside scoop from the Vegas sports books is what gives Raphael the edge. He has an elaborate network of contacts inside and outside of the major casinos all over the country. He also travels all over watching games from the best seats in the house, personally scouting players and teams to help him and his clients make money. When you sign up for picks from VSI, his detailed analysis will tell you why you are on the right side of these games and his winning record can't be disputed.

Raphael has been delivering winning results in NFL, College Football, NBA, College Basketball, WNBA, Soccer (World Cup, Euro Cup, English Premier League, Champions League, and MLS) and MLB Baseball in his years with the Doc's Sports team of handicappers. Be sure to check the "Informers Daily Power Source" to the left for daily updated free picks and information, as well as updated articles.

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers