Push

A push happens when the result of a bet lands exactly on the line — neither winning nor losing. The bet is treated as a tie, and the stake is returned to the bettor with no profit or loss.

How It Works

Pushes can occur on any market with a whole-number line:

Spread example: You bet Cowboys -3. The Cowboys win 27-24, exactly a 3-point margin. The result lands exactly on the line.

• Result: Push. Your $100 stake is returned. No win, no loss.

Totals example: You bet Over 47 in an NBA game. The final combined score is exactly 47.

• Result: Push. Stake returned.

Player prop example: You bet Patrick Mahomes Over 275.5 passing yards (no half-point). He throws for exactly 275.

• Result: Push. Stake returned.

Half-point lines (-3.5, 47.5) prevent pushes by making the line uncrossable in either direction. This is why most modern lines use half-points.

Why It Matters

Pushes happen most often on football spreads. The most common margins of victory in football are 3 and 7. Whenever a spread is set at exactly 3 or 7, pushes become unusually likely. This is why books often charge extra vig to shift to a half-point spread (e.g., -3.5 instead of -3).

Pushes affect parlay outcomes. When one leg of a parlay pushes, that leg is removed and the parlay continues with the remaining legs. A 4-leg parlay with one push becomes a 3-leg parlay at recalculated odds. This is generally favorable to the bettor — you get a slightly easier path to a payout.

Pushes don’t trigger losses, even when they look like they should. A close-to-the-line outcome that pushes is often emotionally jarring (your team won by exactly 3, but your -3 spread didn’t pay), but it’s mathematically neutral. The bet is voided.

Some bets can’t push. Moneylines on most sports can’t push because they only have two outcomes (win or lose) — no in-between. The exception is sports with explicit draws, like soccer, where books may offer separate “draw” markets or three-way moneylines.

Common Push Scenarios by Sport

NFL/NCAAFB spreads: Most common at 3 (field goal) and 7 (touchdown).

NBA/NCAAMB spreads: Less common because basketball margins are spread across more numbers.

MLB run lines: Almost never push because the run line is set at 1.5 (a half-run is impossible).

NHL puck lines: Same — set at 1.5 to prevent pushes.

Tennis: Set match totals can push if matches end at exactly the line.

Soccer: Spreads (called “Asian handicaps” internationally) often use quarter-points to prevent or partially-prevent pushes.

For more on how spreads and totals work, see Moneylines, Spreads, and Totals.