Push (Betting Term)

Push (Betting Term)
When a wager neither wins nor loses, and how sportsbooks handle it

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📘 Definition

A Push occurs in sports betting when the final result of a wager lands exactly on the sportsbook’s posted line. In this case, the bet is graded as neither a win nor a loss, and the bettor’s original stake is refunded in full. A push is essentially a tie between bettor and book.

Pushes most often happen in point spread and totals (Over/Under) markets when the margin of victory or total points equals the number set by the sportsbook. Moneyline bets never result in pushes, since they only involve win/loss outcomes (except in rare cases where rules dictate ties).

Example:

• NFL spread: Chiefs -3.0 vs Jets +3.0.

• Final score: Chiefs 27, Jets 24 → Chiefs win by 3 exactly.

• Both sides push, stakes refunded.

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🧮 Structure

Pushes occur in several contexts:

1. Point Spread Bets

   • Line: -7.0.

   • Team wins by exactly 7 → push.

2. Totals (Over/Under)

   • Line: 45.0 points.

   • Game ends with 45 points → push.

3. Asian Handicaps

   • Built to include push scenarios. Example: +1.0 handicap → if team loses by 1, result is push.

4. Player/Team Props

   • Example: QB passing yards line at 300.0. Final = 300 → push.

5. Parlays and Teasers

   • If one leg pushes, most books drop that leg and recalculate odds for the rest of the parlay. Some treat pushes differently, so house rules matter.

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🎯 In Practice

Pushes are common in certain sports and line types:

• NFL: Key numbers like 3 and 7 are frequent push outcomes, since many games are decided by field goals or touchdowns.

• NBA: With higher scoring, spreads rarely land exactly on the number, but totals sometimes do.

• Soccer (Asian Handicap): Pushes are built into the format (e.g., +1.0, -1.0).

• Baseball Totals: Over/Under 9 runs → game ends 5–4 → push.

For bettors, pushes are neutral—no money lost, no money won. For sportsbooks, pushes are neither revenue nor liability, but they disrupt handle balance.

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🔢 Example Bet

Bet: $500 on Rams -6.0 vs Seahawks.

• Final score: Rams 27, Seahawks 21.

• Margin = 6 points.

• Outcome: Push. Your $500 is refunded.

If the line had been -6.5, the Rams would have needed to win by 7 to cover, and your bet would have lost. That half-point difference (“the hook”) often determines whether a bet pushes, wins, or loses.

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💸 Pros and Cons

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💡 Strategy Tips

1. Prefer Half-Point Lines

   • Betting -2.5 instead of -3 avoids push outcomes. Books use hooks to eliminate pushes.

2. Understand House Rules

   • Check how your sportsbook treats pushes in parlays and teasers. Some void, some recalc, some count as losses.

3. Embrace Neutrality

   • A push is better than a loss. Treat it as protection, not frustration.

4. Bet Early or Late for Hooks

   • Line movement often adds or removes half-points. Catching -2.5 instead of -3 changes push odds.

5. Asian Handicap for Clarity

   • These markets explicitly build in push results, helping bettors plan expectations.

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📊 Best Use Cases

• NFL Spreads: Classic push scenarios at -3 and -7.

• College Football Totals: Large scoring swings make exact-number pushes possible.

• NBA Totals: With sharp lines, exact totals hit occasionally.

• Soccer Handicaps: Pushes are integral, not incidental.

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⚠️ Common Mistakes

• Confusing push with loss: Some bettors think push = lost stake, when it’s refunded.

• Not checking rules on parlays: Different books handle pushes differently.

• Underestimating hooks: Ignoring half-points leads to unnecessary pushes and lost EV.

• Chasing alternative lines without reason: Avoiding pushes by paying high juice doesn’t always make sense.

• Emotional frustration: Treating a push as wasted effort instead of variance protection.

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📌 Summary