What Is a Pick (or Pick ‘Em) in Sports Betting?

Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau (50) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

In sports betting, a pick ’em is any two-way contest where both teams have roughly equal odds to win the game. 

There is no point spread to consider in such a game – bettors must merely pick which team (or player) they think will win. Hence, a pick or pick ’em.

Teams and players priced as a pick may often be represented as pk. So, if the Texans are playing the Jaguars, and the football odds price the game as a pick ’em, a Texans bettor might represent his bet as Texans pk

Can You Push on a Pick ’Em Bet?

Technically, bettors can push on a pick ’em bet if it’s a two-way bet that ends in a tie. So pushes are possible, but only if the bet is a pick ’em in a sport that ends in a tie.

Pick ’em bets in college football and college basketball, for example, could never end in a push. However, two-way NFL bets could.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.