What Is a Push in Sports Betting?

You placed your bet, the game ended, and now you are staring at your sportsbook account wondering… what just happened? Your bet did not win. It did not lose. It just kind of disappeared. Your money is back in your account like nothing ever happened.

Welcome to the push — one of sports betting’s more confusing quirks for beginners. Let us break down exactly what a push is, how it happens, and what it means for your bets.

What Is a Push in Sports Betting?

A push happens when the outcome of a bet results in a tie between you and the sportsbook. Neither side wins. When you push, you simply get your original wager back — no profit, no loss.

Think of it like a coin flip that lands on its edge. The sportsbook cannot take your money, and you cannot collect a payout. It is a dead heat, and the bet is voided.

How Do Pushes Happen?

Pushes most commonly occur with point spread bets and totals (over/under) bets. They are rare on moneylines, but they can happen there too. Here is how each works:

Point Spread Pushes

The most common type of push. If a team is favored by exactly the spread margin, and they win by that exact number — push city.

Example: The Kansas City Chiefs are favored by 7 points over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs win 24-17 — exactly 7 points. If you bet the Chiefs -7, you push. If you bet the Raiders +7, you also push. Everyone gets their money back.

Totals (Over/Under) Pushes

Same idea, just applied to the combined score. If the total is set at 47.5, a push is impossible (you cannot score half a point). But if the total is set at a whole number like 48, and the game ends 28-20 — that is exactly 48 combined points. Push.

Example: The Lakers vs. Celtics total is set at 224. The final score is Lakers 112, Celtics 112 — that is exactly 224 combined points. Whether you bet the over or under, you push and get your money back.

Moneyline Pushes

These are rare in most sports since there is usually a winner. But in sports that allow ties — like soccer or sometimes NFL regular season — if you bet the moneyline on a team and the game ends in a tie, you typically push (depending on the sportsbook’s rules). Always check the house rules before betting moneylines in sports with possible draws.

What Happens to a Parlay When One Leg Pushes?

This is a big one for beginners. Let us say you have got a 4-team parlay and one of your legs pushes. Does your whole parlay lose? Nope.

At most major sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars), a pushed leg in a parlay simply gets removed. Your 4-team parlay becomes a 3-team parlay. You still need the remaining legs to win, but the pushed leg does not kill your ticket.

Example:

• Leg 1: Chiefs -7 — Win
• Leg 2: Eagles -3.5 — Win
• Leg 3: Bills -7 — Push (dropped from parlay)
• Leg 4: 49ers -4 — Win

Result: Your 4-leg parlay becomes a 3-leg parlay. You win — just at lower 3-team parlay odds instead of 4-team odds. Not ideal, but way better than losing the whole thing.

Note: Always verify your specific sportsbook’s rules. Most follow this standard, but a few may handle pushed legs differently.

Key Numbers in Football: The Push Danger Zones

In the NFL, games do not end at random margins. Certain final scores happen way more often than others because of how football scoring works (7 points for a touchdown + extra point, 3 for a field goal). This creates what bettors call key numbers.

The two most important key numbers in NFL betting are:

• 3 points — The most common margin of victory in NFL history
• 7 points — The second most common margin of victory

When a spread is set at exactly 3 or 7, you have got a significant push risk. Sportsbooks know this, which is why they will often shade the line to -3.5 or -7.5 to eliminate a flood of pushes.

Buying Off the Key Number

Most sportsbooks let you buy half a point to move off a key number. This is sometimes called “buying the hook.” Moving from -3 to -2.5 or from +7 to +7.5 eliminates the push risk — but it costs you extra juice (usually moving from -110 to -130 or so).

Is it worth it? On key numbers like 3 and 7 in the NFL, many experienced bettors say yes — especially on a game where the spread feels like it could land exactly there. For a beginner, it is worth knowing the option exists.

Beginner Tips: What To Do When You Push

• Do not panic. A push is not a loss. Your money is safe in your account.
• Check your bet slip. Most apps will show the bet as “Push” or “Void” with your stake returned.
• Understand the half-point value. Many sportsbooks set totals and spreads at half-points (47.5, -6.5) specifically to eliminate the possibility of a push. If you see a whole number spread, know there is a push risk.
• Read the sportsbook’s rules. While most books handle pushes the same way, details can vary — especially for alternate lines, teasers, and props.
• Do not chase after a push. Some bettors immediately re-bet the same game after a push. Take a breath. A push is a neutral outcome, not a sign you need to recoup anything.

Quick Recap: Push in Sports Betting

• A push = tie result = you get your money back
• Most common with point spreads and totals on whole numbers
• In parlays, a pushed leg is removed and the parlay adjusts down
• Key numbers in NFL: 3 and 7 — know them
• You can buy off key numbers to avoid the push, but it costs extra juice
• Always check your sportsbook’s specific push rules

Pushes are not exciting — there is no big win, no devastating loss. But understanding them is part of becoming a smarter bettor. The more you know about how lines work and where pushes are likely to happen, the better equipped you will be to make informed wagers. Now go enjoy the game — and may your spreads always land one point in your favor.