Chad Hartsock

Consultant

Chad is a teacher and minister by training, and a fantasy sports enthusiast and sports bettor by hobby. Chad lives in the Great Smoky Mountains, and he especially loves NCAAF, NFL, NCAAB, and MLB. Chad has been handicapping for Pickswise since 2022.

Live Picks 2

Live Parlays 0

Weekly News Articles 0

Location

Tennessee

Favorite Sports

Favorite Teams

Greatest Betting Win

I have two favorite betting memories. My favorite bet, and my biggest single win, was the 2022 Super Bowl exact result–Rams over Bengals. I placed the futures bet at the beginning of the playoffs when both teams were the #4 seed, and it carried something like +1500 odds. Those playoffs were fun.

Greatest Achievements

As a proud Baylor alum, it would have to be betting on Baylor basketball to win the 2021 national championship. I do not blindly back my team, but Baylor was an underdog to Gonzaga and I saw that win coming, so I emptied my account on it.

Education

Chad has a bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman University, a masters of divinity from Baylor University, and an Ph.D. in biblical studies from Baylor University. He taught at the college level for 11 years (thus earning the nickname “the Professor” in some betting circles). Chad has published two books and numerous academic articles, but sports writing came along later, first as a hobby and now as a daily activity.

Experience

Chad has been playing fantasy sports since 2003, and betting for as long as it has been legal in Tennessee. Chad also loves casino sportsbooks and table games, and he frequently turns up at Harrah’s in Cherokee NC or the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol VA. He began his handicapping career with friends on a small website and podcast in 2021 (the now-archived ScoopAndScoreSports.com, a venture that fizzled out because none of them knew how to run a website properly.) He joined the Pickswise team in 2022, and he writes college football, college basketball, and MLB. Chad has been among the team’s best pickers in each of those sports, and he loves nothing more than getting a pick right for the Pickswise community, especially when the public is going the other way.

Favorite betting market / type

Same Game Parlays & Player Props.

Favorite bookmakers

Chad's Picks

Money Line Pick

NY Yankees Win(-135)

Reasoning

The Subway Series continues on FOX on Saturday night, as the New York Mets host the New York Yankees. The Mets just swept the Tigers earlier this week and were scoring runs in the process, but they went right back to losing when the Yankees rolled into Queens last night. The Pinstripes took Friday’s game, 5-2, breaking a bit of a cold streak. I look for that to continue on Saturday, although the pitching matchup is not likely to inspire much hope for either team. Still, give me the Yankees on the money line.

Carlos Rodon will make his second start of the season. He was far from sharp in his first outing, struggling to find the strike zone. He walked 5 and left early. The upside is that he should at least neutralize Soto, and the rest of the Mets’ lineup isn’t scaring anybody. On the other side is David Peterson. He has struggled this season and will likely work in a bulk role following an opener. “Bulk role” usually means a starter can’t be trusted to give you 5 innings, so you start him later in the game. That’s been Peterson’s story this season. I don’t trust him, and I don’t trust the Mets’ bullpen. I’ll take the Yankees to win again.

Yankees vs Mets prediction: Yankees ML (-135) available at time of publishing. Playable to -150.

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Chad Hartsock

Money Line PickBest Bet

TB Rays Win(-140)

Reasoning

As Rivalry Weekend continues, the Miami Marlins face the Tampa Bay Rays. You just can’t get hotter than the Rays are right now. They have won 11 of their last 13, they have opened up a 2-game lead in the AL East, and they trail only the Braves for the best record in baseball. This Tampa team was not supposed to be anything special this season, but they just keep winning. They do everything you want a team to do. They hit the ball, they take extra bases, they play defense, they pitch well and they are even employing winning with tactics like bunting and pressuring the opponent. At this point, it is folly to bet against them. I will take the Rays to win again on Saturday following their 7-2 win on Friday night.

Yes, Sandy Alcantara is on the hill for the Fish. Alcantara has been good, although not untouchable. He has turned in quality starts in 3 of his last 4 outings. He faces Nick Martinez, a veteran journeyman who is pitching out of his mind right now. He has yet to allow more than 2 runs in any of his 8 starts and, of course, the pitching whisperers in Tampa have found a way to turn a mediocre journeyman into a star. Alcantara helps keep the price manageable on this game, but I am not getting cute and betting against the Rays right now — not until they come back to Earth.

Marlins vs Rays prediction: Tampa Bay ML (-140) available at time of publishing. Playable to -160.

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Chad Hartsock