Chris Kubala

Sports Writer

Chris Kubala has been immersed in the world of professional and collegiate sports for more than three decades. From the NFL and CFL to the NHL, KHL, NBA, WNBA, college hoops, and MLB, Chris has covered it all. He has been an expert bettor throughout his career and enjoys wagering on the majority of sports.

What makes Chris Kubala an expert?

Chris joined TheLines in 2026 and has written for various sites since 2009. He began with Mirosport and JockSpin (2009-2011) before covering the beat at Boyd’s Bets and BetFirm (2011-2015). Chris then spent a decade as a lead writer at Winners and Whiners (2015-2026). Some of his work during that time was also seen at StatSalt and Picks and Parlays. Chris hosted a show on the Winners and Whiners/Max Wagers Network YouTube channels called Just Parlays with Chris King. In addition to his online coverage, Chris has also written books about the NCAA Tournament, the NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, soccer, golf, and the World Cup.

MLB

I was the No. 1 baseball handicapper for Winners and Whiners in 2023, No. 3 in 2024, and No. 2 in 2025. I’ve been handicapping matchups for the better part of three decades and love breaking down the matchups between pitchers and lineups.

NFL

I’ve handled football coverage since the early 1990s. Analyzing matchups and digging into how a good run defense stacks up against a run-heavy offense is always entertaining to try to decipher.

NCAAF

From the small conferences to the power four, I’ve covered every bit of it. Bowl games to season openers, conference title games to non-conference clashes, the wishbone to the Air Raid, I’ve seen and wrote about it all.

NCAAB

With 366 teams in Division I, it’s easy to get lost in the crush of games. Whether it’s the MEAC or the SEC, the Southland or the Big Ten, I’ve covered everything across college basketball. I do the research and try to give you the numbers you need to be a winner at the window when it’s all said and done.

FAQ

Why did you decide to become a sports journalist?

I wanted to work in sports since the early days of my childhood. People always said that I could’ve been Chris Berman if ESPN started in 1999 instead of 1979.

How do you research and verify the information in your articles?

I make sure to get all relevant information — from statistics to injury reports, dismissals to suspensions. That includes visiting team sites, statistics sites, beat writer reports, and doing some of the legwork myself.

What is most important for you when writing sports content?

Being accurate is what’s most important to me. Teams and athletes play their sports on the court, ice, or turf … not on paper. So, you can do all the research and still have things not break your way. However, if you have the complete data set to make an informed decision, it makes a bad beat a little easier to swallow.

How do you stay up to date with sports and leagues you cover?

Constant research, on and offline, along with watching games, is paramount.

Do you have any direct experience in sports (playing, coaching, officiating, or analytics)?

I played three sports in high school, intramurals in college, and pickup games as an adult. I also umpired baseball at the high school level for more than a decade.

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