How pushes work in point spread betting

Point spread betting assigns a handicap that the favorite must win by, or the underdog must stay within, for the bet to cash. The point spread bridges the gap between teams with different skillsets, allowing games to be more competitive from a betting perspective. When the final margin exactly matches the spread, you get a push.

Let’s head to the NBA and consider a game featuring the Orlando Magic vs the Miami Heat in which the Magic were favored by 5 points (a -5 spread). With the Heat trailing by eight with 18 seconds left, Tyler Herro drains a three-pointer, and the game ends with a 108-103 Magic win. This game would result in a push and all bettors would be credited with the original amount they wagered, whether it was on the Magic -5 or the Heat +5.

When totals result in a push

Over/under bets, also known as totals, involve predicting whether the combined score of a game will be higher or lower than the line set by the sportsbook. When the total score lands exactly on that number, it’s a push. This only happens with whole numbers; totals ending in a half-point will always result in a clear winner or loser.

Consider a baseball game between the Yankees and Red Sox with a total set at 8 runs. In the bottom of the 9th, with the score sitting at 5-1 in favor of the Red Sox, Aaron Judge belts a 2-run homer to make it 5-3 (exactly 8 runs). This is another example of a push – the total lands right on the number, and all bettors get their stakes refunded.

How pushes impact your parlays

Parlay bets allow players to combine multiple selections (also known as legs) into one big wager, in which all legs must hit in order for the bet to cash. But what happens if one or more of these selections results in a push?

When any leg of your parlay pushes, it gets removed (voided) from the ticket and your parlay continues with the rest of the legs. The odds get recalculated based on your remaining selections, treating the wager as if that leg was never included in the first place.

Imagine you have a 4-leg parlay with odds of +1200 that would pay $120 on a $10 bet. If one leg pushes, you now have a 3-leg parlay that might pay +600, or $60 on that same $10 bet. You can still win, but the payout is smaller because you have fewer legs.

Here’s an example of how a four-leg parlay plays out if one of the legs is a push, both in terms of the game results and the different payouts scenarios.

Side	Odds	Final Score	Bet Result
Dolphins +6.5	-110	27-20 MIA	WIN
Buccaneers ML	-120	27-24 TB	WIN
Lightning -1.5	+120	5-2 TB	WIN
Heat -3	-105	103-100 MIA	PUSH

Parlay Result	Odds	Profit on $10 Bet
4 Legs Win	+1403	$140.30
3 Legs Win, 1 Losses	+1403	$0
3 Legs Win, 1 Pushes	+670	$67

FAQ about pushes in sports betting

Still have some questions about pushes in sports betting? We’ve got you covered:

What Are Point Spread Underdogs

Point spread betting levels the playing field by giving the underdog a head start in points. This means the underdog doesn’t have to win the game outright, they just need to lose by fewer points than predicted.

When you see a spread like Golden State Warriors -5 vs New York Knicks +5, the Knicks are getting 5 points before the game even starts. If GS wins 105-101, the Knicks still cover the spread because they lost by only 4 points, which is less than the 5-point spread.

Spread betting creates more balanced wagering opportunities for the underdog. Even when one team is clearly better, the spread can make the underdog an attractive bet. You’re essentially betting that the game will be closer than expected.

When Do Underdogs Offer Real Value?

Smart bettors know that not all underdogs are created equal. Certain situations make underdog bets more attractive and potentially profitable. Recognizing these spots can significantly improve your betting success.

• Divisional rivalries often produce closer games than the NFL odds suggest. Teams that play each other twice a year know each other’s strengths and weaknesses intimately.
• Home underdogs deserve special attention in your betting strategy. Playing at home provides real advantages: familiar surroundings, supportive crowds and no travel fatigue. When a decent team is getting points at home, they often represent excellent value.
• Teams with recent momentum shifts can also offer underdog value. Maybe key players are returning from injury, or the team has won several games in a row. The betting public and oddsmakers usually bake these considerations into their odds, but sometimes if you act quickly, you can get good value on early lines..
• Weather conditions can create underdog opportunities in outdoor sports. Heavy rain, snow, or strong winds can neutralize talent advantages and make games more unpredictable (and fun, everybody loves a snow bowl football game)

Find Underdog Bets on Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook

Hard Rock Bet makes finding underdog opportunities straightforward with our user-friendly interface. You can quickly scan through different sports and identify underdogs by looking for those plus odds across all betting markets.

All bets, including underdog bets contribute to the Legendary Reward Drops program, where you earn Level Credits with every wager. The more you play, the better your weekly rewards become. This loyalty program adds extra value to your underdog betting strategy over time.

The mobile betting app lets you track line movements and spot when underdog odds are getting better. If you like a particular underdog, you can monitor their odds throughout the week and place your bet when the price is most favorable.

Live Betting the Underdog

Live betting opens up even more underdog opportunities during games. If a favored team falls behind early, their live odds might shift to underdog status, creating value betting situations you can capitalize on in real time. From a betting perspective, the underdog can change quickly based on what happens in the game.

Frequently Asked Questions About Betting Underdogs

Let’s dig in to some FAQs relating to sports betting and ‘underdogs’.

Types of betting favorites

There are two main types of favorites that you’ll find offered across all major sports: moneyline favorites and point spread favorites.

Moneyline favorites

Moneyline favorites make for one of the simplest bets: you’re wagering on who you think will win the game, period. The Philadelphia Eagles (-200 moneyline favorites, pictured above) just need to win their game against the Buccaneers for your bet to cash. It doesn’t matter if it’s by a single point or even in overtime: a win is a win.

Moneyline betting works best when you’re confident about the winner but unsure about their exact margin of victory.

Point spread favorites

Point spread favorites, on the other hand, must win by more than the set number of points outlined by the oddsmakers. Since the Eagles are favored by 3.5 points over the Bucs, they’ll need to win by at least 4 points for any spread bets to cash.

This concept helps level the playing field between mismatched teams. Even if everyone expects the favorite to win, the spread makes you consider whether they’ll win big enough to cover the number.

Puck line and run line favorites

Puck line bets and run line bets are hockey and baseball’s version of point spread betting. Since hockey and baseball are both relatively low-scoring sports compared to football or basketball, favorites on the puck line and run line are almost always set at -1.5. In some cases, a mismatch will be large enough where the favorite is set at -2.5, but generally speaking most NHL puck lines and MLB run lines will be posted at -1.5.

If the Tampa Bay Lightning are playing the Florida Panthers and Florida is the puck line favorite (-1.5), they would need to win by 2 or more goals for any bets to be successful. As the puck line underdogs, the Lightning would be listed at +1.5, meaning if they lost by fewer than two goals or won the game outright, bets on Tampa Bay would cash.

When betting favorites makes sense

Betting favorites isn’t just about following the crowd or wagering on a team because they are “supposed to win.” Betting favorites makes the most sense when you find teams that offer good value relative to their true chances of winning. Additionally, remember that just because a team is heavily favored doesn’t mean they are going to win the game. This is where implied probability can be your guide.

Let’s say Green Bay is a -450 favorite over Minnesota. The line is suggesting that the Packers have an 81.82% chance of winning the game. Given that you’d have to wager $450 to win $100 in profit, if you believe the Packers have even a slightly lower chance of winning than 81%, you shouldn’t make that bet.

That’s why it’s often easier to find value on favorites in the -120 to -150 range. The implied probability in these closer matchups is between 55-60%, so if you’ve got a good read on a -140 favorite that you believe has a 65% chance of winning (true odds of -186), then you’ve found a favorite that makes a lot of sense to bet on!

FAQ about favorites in sports betting

Still have some questions about favorites in sports betting? We’ve covered a few of the more common ones down below: