What Does a Push Bet Mean for You?

Hey there! If you‘re new to sports betting, you‘ve probably heard the word "push" thrown around and wondered exactly what it means. I‘m here to break it all down for you so you can understand this key concept.

As your betting buddy, let me explain that a push occurs when the final score or outcome lands perfectly on the spread or total betting line set by oddsmakers. It ends up being a tie between you (the bettor) and the sportsbook.

When a push happens, the sportsbook refunds your original wager. It‘s basically a draw with no winner or loser.

Now let‘s dive into some of the nitty gritty details on how and why pushes happen!

What Triggers a Bet to Push?

Pushes occur most often with spread and over/under (totals) bets in football and basketball.

For example, say the Packers are a -7 point favorite over the Bears. If Green Bay wins 28-21, they covered the spread exactly. This game would be scored as a push.

Or let‘s imagine the total points line for a college basketball game is 142. If the final score ends up 71-71, the combined 142 points means the game pushes.

According to historical sports betting data, around 2-3% of points spread bets and 5-6% of totals bets typically end in a push.

Let‘s look at some more examples to see how spreads and totals can end in a tie:

As you can see, it takes the exactly right final margin or combined score to fall on the key betting number to cause a push.

Now on to how parlays are affected…

What Happens to Parlays with a Push?

Parlays involve placing multiple bets together on one ticket for a bigger potential payout. With parlays, a push on one leg of the parlay causes just that specific bet to be removed from the parlay equation.

For example, say you have a 4-team parlay and one game ends in a push. Your parlay would shift to only include the remaining 3 games, with adjusted odds to reflect one less bet.

Having a push does not ruin or eliminate the whole parlay ticket. It only drops the pushed portion from calculations. This is different than a loss, which would void the entire parlay bet.

Pushes are Rare on Moneyline Bets

While pushes on spread and totals bets range from 2-6%, they are far less common when making straight moneyline picks on the outright winner.

For a moneyline bet to push, the odds would need to be set perfectly even at +100 for both teams. Sportsbooks rarely set exactly equal moneylines since they aim to encourage betting action on one side.

An example of a pushing moneyline would be:

If the game ended in a 28-28 tie, this +100 vs +100 moneyline would push. But the chances of both teams getting precisely even odds are very unlikely.

Much more common are MLB moneylines set at -110 for favorites and +120 or more for underdogs. This imbalance avoids ties.

Line Movements Increase Push Potential

Now as your betting guru, I always advise paying close attention to line movements leading up to game time.

Late-breaking injury news or weather changes often cause sportsbooks to adjust spreads and totals. This can make the numbers more accurate to the final outcome, increasing push probability.

For example, if the favored team‘s starting QB is suddenly ruled out, you may see the spread drop from -7 down to -3.5. The lower spread has a better chance to push if it ends up being the exact margin.

So by monitoring line movements, you can spot situations where sitting right on the spread or total becomes more likely.

Push Policies Vary at Sportsbooks

Every book has their own specific rules around pushes, so let me break down some of the key differences:

• Some require the exact total or spread number. A game landing on 3 vs. 3.5 points makes a difference.
• Others use half points (.5) on spreads to avoid pushes. A -2.5 spread couldn‘t push.
• Teaser bets and parlays sometimes have special push rules.
• Player proposition bets typically have "half points don‘t count" policies.

Because of this, it‘s really crucial to know the push rules at your preferred sportsbooks. I suggest reading through their betting rules pages to find their guidelines.

Understanding the fine print will prevent any surprises!

Perspectives on Push Betting

As a bettor, pushes are generally preferable to losses since you get your original wager back. But they aren‘t as exciting as winning bets that earn you profits!

For sportsbooks, pushes increase their workload to process refunds and update parlays. Too many pushes may also mean their betting lines weren‘t set perfectly to encourage action on both sides.

In the big picture, pushes are just part of the expected cost of running a sportsbook. They know that around 2-6% of spread and total bets will push over time.

Should You Specifically Bet for Pushes?

While you can make strategic bets to intentionally push, I usually don‘t recommend it as a long term strategy.

The odds of landing perfectly on a key number are still fairly low. Trying to force pushes reduces your chances of actual wins over time.

I‘d rather make smart bets to pick winners profitably over many games. In the big picture, the extra wins you earn will offset any pushes that randomly occur.

Let‘s Recap Push Betting Basics

Alright, let‘s do a quick recap so you‘ve got push betting down pat!

• A push occurs when the final margin or total falls exactly on the spread or total betting line.

• This results in a tie between the bettor and sportsbook. Your original wager gets refunded.

• Pushes happen most often with spread and over/under bets, about 2-6% of the time.

• On parlays, a push removes just that leg from calculations. The rest of the parlay remains valid.

• Be aware of line movements close to the game, as they may increase push chances.

• Know your specific sportsbook‘s guidelines for how pushes are handled.

Got all that? Now you‘re a push betting expert! Let me know if any other questions come up. Happy wagering!