Pick'em

A pick’em (you’ll see it written as “pick” or “PK” on the board) is a game where the oddsmakers favor neither side. The spread sits at zero, meaning the book sees the matchup as a coin flip. No favorite, no underdog from a spread standpoint — you’re simply calling which team wins outright.

Pick’em lines don’t show up often, because most games carry some daylight between the two sides. When one does appear, it’s a signal that the oddsmakers and the market view the teams as razor-close. Home-field edge, injuries, rest, recent form — all of it can wash out to a spread of zero.

For the bettor, a pick’em strips the decision down. No fretting over margins or covering a number. The only question is who wins. The vig doesn’t vanish, though. Both sides usually sit around -110, so you’re risking a touch more than you stand to win no matter which way you lean.

Example

The Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers are posted as a pick’em for their upcoming game. The board shows PK, both sides priced at -110. You drop $110 on the Packers. If Green Bay wins 21-20, you pocket $100 profit plus your $110 stake. If San Francisco takes it 17-14, your $110 is gone. And if the game ends in a tie (rare in the NFL but possible elsewhere), the bet pushes and your $110 stake comes back.

Key Points

• No spread involved: A pick’em runs on a zero spread. Win the game, win the bet — no margin to clear.
• Signals an even matchup: Oddsmakers hang a pick’em when they read the two teams as dead even for that particular game.
• Displayed as PK: On boards and apps, pick’em lines usually show as “PK” instead of a zero.
• Ties result in a push: If the game draws in sports where that’s possible, pick’em bets get refunded as a push.
• Vig still applies: No spread, sure, but both sides typically run -110, so the book still takes its cut.