Pick'em
A matchup with no favorite -- the spread sits at zero, so the bet reduces to picking the outright winner.
A pick’em (rendered as “pick” or “PK” on betting boards) is a matchup in which oddsmakers favor neither side. The point spread is set at zero, signaling that the book treats the contest as essentially even. With no favorite or underdog on the spread, bettors are simply selecting the team they project to win outright.
Pick’em lines are statistically uncommon, since most games carry some measurable separation between the two sides. When one surfaces, it indicates that oddsmakers and the market view the teams as extremely tightly matched. Variables such as home-field advantage, injuries, rest, and recent form can offset one another to net out at a spread of zero.
For the bettor, a pick’em strips the decision down. There is no margin of victory to clear and no number to cover – the only variable is which side wins. The vig still applies, however. Both teams typically price around -110, so you risk slightly more than you stand to win regardless of your pick.
Example
The Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers are posted as a pick’em for their upcoming game. The board reads PK, and both sides price at -110. You stake $110 on the Packers. If Green Bay wins 21-20, you collect $100 in profit plus your $110 stake. If San Francisco wins 17-14, your $110 is lost. If the game ends tied (rare in the NFL but possible in some sports), the bet grades as a push and your $110 stake is returned.
Key Points
- No spread involved: A pick’em sets the spread at zero. Whoever wins the game wins the bet, with no margin requirement.
- Signals an even matchup: Oddsmakers post a pick’em when they assess the two teams as effectively equal in strength for that specific game.
- Displayed as PK: On boards and betting apps, pick’em lines are commonly abbreviated “PK” instead of showing a zero spread.
- Ties result in a push: When the game ends drawn in sports that allow it, pick’em bets are refunded as a push.
- Vig still applies: Despite the absence of a spread, both sides typically price at -110, so the book still extracts its commission on the wager.