A push happens when the result lands exactly on the number. Bet a team -3 and they win by 3, or the over 45 and the game ends 24-21, and you get your stake back.
Pushes don't count as wins or losses in your win rate. Lines with a hook, like -3.5, can't push.
In a parlay, a pushed leg is usually removed and the parlay pays at the remaining legs' odds.
How it works
A push is the sportsbook's way of handling a result that lands exactly on the number. Nobody wins, nobody loses, and the stake comes back.
Pushes are most common on whole-number lines in sports with predictable scoring. In the NFL, spreads of 3 and 7 push more often than most because those are key numbers. That's why the difference between -3 and -3.5 is worth more than half a point on most other numbers.
How a push affects other bets:
- Parlays: the pushed leg is usually removed and the parlay pays at the remaining legs' odds. Some sportsbooks treat a pushed two-leg parlay as a straight bet on the remaining leg.
- Teasers: rules vary. Some books drop the leg, others grade the whole teaser as a loss.
- Records: a push counts as zero units and is left out of win rate, but cappers should still list it so the record is complete.
In soccer, a push is common on Asian handicap lines, where a whole-number handicap returns stakes on certain results.
Examples
- Example 1
Ten bets at -110, 1 unit each: 6 wins, 3 losses and 1 push. Profit is 6 × 0.909 − 3 = +2.45 units, and the win rate is 6 ÷ 9 = 66.7%.
- Example 2
A $10 three-leg parlay at -110 per leg has one leg push. It becomes a two-leg parlay and returns $36.45 if the other two win.
- Example 3
A total of 47 lands on exactly 47 points (27-20). Both the over and the under push, and every bettor gets their stake back.
Common questions
What happens to my money if a bet pushes?
You get your full stake back, with no profit or loss. It's as if the bet was never placed.
Does a push count as a loss in a parlay?
At most sportsbooks, no. The pushed leg is removed and the parlay pays out at the odds of the remaining legs. Teaser rules vary more, so check your sportsbook.