What happens if the game ends exactly on the spread?
Explore the outcome of games ending on the spread and discover how arbitrage betting ensures risk-free profits.
What happens if the game ends exactly on the spread?
If a game ends exactly on the spread, the bet is typically considered a push, meaning all wagers are refunded to bettors.
The spread is designed to balance betting on both sides, and a final result matching the spread leads to no winner or loser in that bet, resulting in a void or push outcome.
Arbitrage betting removes this uncertainty by finding guaranteed profit opportunities regardless of the final score, eliminating guesswork in scenarios like pushes.
Understanding the Spread in Sports Betting
The spread is a handicap placed on a favored team to level the playing field for bettors. It represents the number of points the favored team must win by for a bet on them to pay out. Conversely, a bet on the underdog wins if that team loses by fewer points than the spread or wins outright.
- •The spread evens out betting action on both sides of a game.
- •It affects how bets are settled based on the margin of victory or defeat.
How the Spread Affects Payouts
Bets placed on the favorite win only if the favorite exceeds the spread margin. Bets on the underdog win if the underdog keeps the game within the spread or wins outright. If the final margin equals the spread, the bet is typically a push.
- →Favorite must win by more than the spread.
- →Underdog wins if loss margin is less than the spread or if they win the game.
💡Spread Example
If Team A is favored by 7 points, and the final score difference is exactly 7 points, the bet is a push and stakes are returned.
Team A wins by 7 points = push; no winner or loser on spread bets.
What Happens When the Game Ends Exactly on the Spread: The Push
When the final score margin equals the spread, sportsbooks declare the bet a push. This means all wagers on that spread are refunded to the bettors, as neither side wins the bet.
- •Push results in no profit or loss for bettors.
- •It is different from a win or loss outcome and is treated as a void bet.
- •Pushes help maintain fairness when the spread exactly matches the game result.
Impact of Pushes on Bettors
While pushes return the original stake, they can disrupt betting strategies that rely on consistent outcomes. For example, accumulative bets or parlays can be affected if one leg results in a push, leading to adjusted payouts.
- →Pushes return the stake but delay profit realization.
- →In parlays, a push often removes that leg, adjusting odds.
💡Push Example in a Parlay
In a parlay with three bets, if one bet pushes, the parlay reduces to two bets with recalculated odds instead of losing outright.
Original parlay odds × (Adjusted odds of remaining bets) = New parlay payout
Risks and Challenges of Spread Betting Including Push Outcomes
Spread betting introduces uncertainties such as pushes and unexpected results that can diminish profits or delay returns. Bettors must account for these scenarios when planning their wagers. Additionally, complex calculations are needed to manage payouts and potential outcomes, especially in multi-leg bets.
- •Pushes can interrupt betting momentum and capital flow.
- •Complex payout recalculations are required in parlays involving pushes.
- •Managing risk in spread betting requires experience and precision.
How Arbitrage Betting Addresses These Challenges
Arbitrage betting eliminates the guesswork and risk of pushes by ensuring a profit regardless of the game's outcome. By simultaneously betting all possible results at different sportsbooks, bettors avoid losses even when the game finishes exactly on the spread.
- →Guaranteed profits irrespective of push outcomes.
- →Automated tools like ArbitUp simplify complex bet calculations.
- →Reduced risk compared to traditional spread betting.
💡Using Arbitrage to Avoid Push Risk
A bettor finds opposing spread lines at two sportsbooks that cover all possible outcomes, placing proportional bets to lock in a profit no matter if the game ends on, above, or below the spread.
Stake A + Stake B = guaranteed return > total stake
Handling Pushes Within Betting Strategies
Some bettors prepare for pushes by adjusting their bankroll, choosing alternative bet types, or including push rules in their staking plans. While cautious planning helps, pushes still introduce uncertainty in traditional betting.
- •Reducing bet sizes to minimize impact of pushes.
- •Opting for moneyline or totals bets to avoid spread pushes.
- •Using push rules in parlays to adjust payouts accordingly.
Advantages of Switching to Arbitrage Betting
Switching to arbitrage betting removes the unpredictability of pushes entirely. Since arbitrage exploits differing odds across sportsbooks, it ensures a profit regardless of the final score margin, making bankroll management more predictable.
- →No lost bets or pushes affect profits.
- →Simplified bankroll management with guaranteed returns.
- →Tools like ArbitUp automate identification of arbitrage opportunities.
Automation and Tools for Managing Spread Arbitrage
Calculating stakes and odds to cover all outcomes, including pushes, can be complex and time-consuming. Automation tools like ArbitUp help bettors quickly identify and execute arbitrage opportunities involving spreads and other bet types.
- •ArbitUp calculates optimal stakes to guarantee profit.
- •Real-time odds monitoring across multiple sportsbooks.
- •Saves time and reduces errors in arbitrage betting.
💡Using ArbitUp for Spread Arbitrage
A bettor inputs competing spread odds from multiple sportsbooks into ArbitUp, which then calculates the exact stakes to place on each side to ensure a risk-free profit.
Automated stakes calculation = guaranteed profit margin
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠️Ignoring push rules and expecting a definitive win or loss, leading to confusion when stakes are refunded.
- ⚠️Not adjusting parlays or accumulators when a push occurs, which can result in inaccurate payout expectations.
- ⚠️Failing to manage bankroll properly around pushes, causing cash flow issues.
- ⚠️Overlooking arbitrage opportunities that eliminate push risks.
- ⚠️Manually calculating complex stake distributions, increasing the chance of errors.
- ⚠️Betting on spreads without considering alternative bet types that avoid push scenarios.
- ⚠️Assuming pushes are losses and moving on without reviewing bet outcomes.
The Power of Arbitrage Betting
Arbitrage betting eliminates guesswork by securing guaranteed profits regardless of pushes or final score margins.
- ✓Removes risk of losing bets due to pushes or close outcomes.
- ✓Ensures consistent returns by covering all possible results.
- ✓Simplifies complex calculations with automation tools like ArbitUp.
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This content is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Sports betting involves substantial risk. Only bet with money you can afford to lose. See our Terms of Service for complete legal disclaimers.