A bet result where the outcome lands exactly on the spread or total, resulting in a refund.
A push occurs when the outcome of a bet matches the point spread or total exactly. When a bet pushes, your original wager is returned — you neither win nor lose.
For example, if you bet Chiefs -3 and they win by exactly 3 points, that's a push. This is why half-point spreads (e.g., -3.5) exist — to eliminate pushes.
In parlays, a push on one leg typically reduces the parlay by that leg. A 4-team parlay with one push becomes a 3-team parlay. Some books handle this differently, so always check the house rules.
You wager $110 to win $100 on Cowboys −3 against the Giants. Dallas wins 24–21. The margin lands exactly on the spread — that is a push, and your $110 stake is refunded in full. No win, no loss.
This is why sportsbooks hang half-point hooks like −3.5 or −7.5: to eliminate pushes and force a decision. The key numbers in the NFL — 3, 7, 10, 14 — produce pushes roughly 15% of games combined, with 3 alone accounting for about 9%. Buying off the 3 (paying −120 to move from −3 to −2.5) costs roughly 4.5% in juice, which is usually a losing trade unless you catch it at a soft book pricing it at −115 or better.
<p>You wager <strong>$110 to win $100</strong> on Cowboys −3 against the Giants. Dallas wins 24–21. The margin lands exactly on the spread — that is a <strong>push</strong>, and your $110 stake is refunded in full. No win, no loss.</p><p>This is why sportsbooks hang <strong>half-point hooks</strong> like −3.5 or −7.5: to eliminate pushes and force a decision. The key numbers in the NFL — 3, 7, 10, 14 — produce pushes roughly <strong>15% of games combined</strong>, with 3 alone accounting for about 9%. Buying off the 3 (paying −120 to move from −3 to −2.5) costs roughly <strong>4.5% in juice</strong>, which is usually a losing trade unless you catch it at a soft book pricing it at −115 or better.</p>
A bet result where the outcome lands exactly on the spread or total, resulting in a refund.
<p>You wager <strong>$110 to win $100</strong> on Cowboys −3 against the Giants. Dallas wins 24–21. The margin lands exactly on the spread — that is a <strong>push</strong>, and your $110 stake is refunded in full. No win, no loss.</p><p>This is why sportsbooks hang <strong>half-point hooks</strong> like −3.5 or −7.5: to eliminate pushes and force a decision. The key numbers in the NFL — 3, 7, 10, 14 — produce pushes roughly <strong>15% of games combined</strong>, with 3 alone accounting for about 9%. Buying off the 3 (paying −120 to move from −3 to −2.5) costs roughly <strong>4.5% in juice</strong>, which is usually a losing trade unless you catch it at a soft book pricing it at −115 or better.</p>
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