What is a Push in Betting? | 3 Ways To Use To Your Advantage
What is a Push in Betting? | 3 Ways To Use To Your Advantage
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What is a Push in Betting?
In sports betting, a push occurs when the final score of a game lands exactly on the point spread or total set by the sportsbook. Essentially, a push results in no winner or loser, and the bettor’s stake is returned. The 3 tips below can help you use a push to your advantage.
Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN
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What is a Push in Betting? | 3 Ways To Use To Your Advantage
A push typically happens in point spread and total (over/under) bets. Rarely does a push occur on a moneyline bet except for NFL where the game can end in a tie. One thing to note is while a push doesn’t mean a winner or loser has happened, sports with specific scoring mechanisms like football can have a very different meaning when it comes to pushing a bet or not.
Understanding the Push Scenario
Point Spread Bets
In point spread betting, the sportsbook sets a margin by which a favored team is expected to win. For example, if Team A is favored by 7 points against Team B, the point spread is -7 for Team A. If Team A wins by exactly 7 points, neither side covers the spread, resulting in a push.
Example:
Bet: Team A -7
Final Score: Team A 27, Team B 20
Outcome: Push (because the winning margin is exactly 7 points)
Total (Over/Under) Bets
In total bets, the sportsbook sets a line for the combined score of both teams. Bettors can wager whether the actual combined score will be over or under this line. If the combined score matches the total line exactly, the bet is a push.
Example:
Bet: Over 50 points
Final Score: Team A 27, Team B 23
Combined Score: 50 points
Outcome: Push (because the combined score is exactly 50 points)
Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN
Tip 1: Watch for Lines with ‘The Hook’ (0.5)
Sportsbooks try to make money on every game, meaning when a game pushes, they don’t make any money. They avoid this by setting lines that end in 0.5, like -2.5 or +4.5. Since no scoring mechanism in the main American Sports is counted in half points, this means that if the line ends in 0.5, it always result in the game not pushing.
As a smart sports bettor, pay attention to lines that end in 0.5 and try to avoid them – sometime by buying points when it makes sense to put yourself on a line that might result in a push.
Tip 2: Pay Attention to How the Sport is Scored
Sports that are scored down to a 1-point fidelity are often less of a concern, like hockey or baseball, in that it doesn’t really matter if you get an over/under of 8 runs or 9 runs, because the total can tick up by one run at a time. It is worth noting that often times in these sports, it is far more advantageous to get a line that is on a ODD number, because in baseball or hockey the game can’t end in a tie, so if the game is tied 3-3 or 4-4 when regular time expires and it goes to extra time or extra innings, another run or goal is certain to be scored.
For other sports like football, where scoring is often done by a field goal (3) or touchdown (6), and the accompanying point-after-touchdown PAT (1), it is important to pay attention to the most frequently scored totals and factor this into your strategies when searching for a line without a hook. These key numbers (such as 3, 7, and 10 in football) should be taken into account when placing bets to minimize the chances of a push.
Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN
Tip 3: Avoid Parlays and Teasers & Shop Around
A push can also affect parlay and teaser bets, which are multiple bets combined into one. These however are terrible bets to make mathematically because they are often so heavily weighted against the bettor that they are not worth it. In a parlay, if one of the legs (individual bets) results in a push, it is usually removed from the parlay, and the parlay payout is recalculated based on the remaining legs.
Example:
Parlay Bet: $50 on a three-team parlay
Teams: Team A -7, Team B -3, Team C +4
Outcome: Team A pushes, Team B and Team C win
Result: The parlay is adjusted to a two-team parlay
In teasers, where bettors can adjust the point spreads in their favor, a push typically reduces the number of teams involved in the teaser, and the payout is adjusted accordingly.
Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN
Use a Push in Betting to Your Advantage
To handle the possibility of a push effectively, bettors can combine the strategy of avoiding lines that end in 0.5 to make sure that there is a chance for a push. It’s always better for over/under bets to be sitting on a line where you can’t lose, but can only win if another run or goal is scored.
Additionally, by shopping around for the best lines and using odds comparison tools you can figure out the best lines for that game and how to maximize the potential payouts. Finally, buy avoiding parlays and teasers, you will automatically set yourself up for a better result than playing these and lighting money on fire.
Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN
A push in betting is a scenario where the outcome lands exactly on the sportsbook’s line, resulting in no win or loss for the bettor. While it may seem inconsequential, understanding pushes is crucial for managing your betting strategy and bankroll effectively. By using strategies like betting on half points and line shopping, bettors can minimize the chances of encountering a push and increase their chances of a successful wager.