What is a Pick'em in Sports Betting?

Complete guide to pick'em betting. Learn when both teams have equal odds, what happens to the spread, and how to bet pick'ems correctly using home advantage and power ratings.

In sports betting, a pick'em is when both teams are seen as equal, and a bet on each is worth the same amount of money.

People generally use the term loosely, meaning the odds don't always have to be exactly the same for a matchup to be regarded as a pick'em.

Pick'em in Sports Betting Explained

When a sportsbook gives the same odds for a particular outcome, it's regarded as a pick'em.

Let's start with an example:

Cleveland Browns (-110) vs. Baltimore Ravens (-110)

Regardless of whether you fancy the Browns or the Ravens to win, you would need to bet $110 on the moneyline to see a return of $100, plus your stake.

The sportsbook thinks the matchup is too tight to call, which is why it has not given a favorite and an underdog.

Near Pick'em Example

Let's look at a slightly different example:

Cincinnati Bengals (-115) vs. New England Patriots (-105)

Although the odds aren't exactly the same, the above matchup would still be regarded by many as a pick'em in sports betting, as both sides of the bet are "money."

If you fancy the Bengals, you would need to bet $115 to return $100, while a $105 bet on the Patriots would return the same amount.

Although this puts the Bengals as favorites, they're only slightly preferred, which is why many people still regard this type of bet as a pick'em.

What Happens to the Spread with a Pick'em?

Lots of sports bettors like to bet on the spread, which serves as a handicap between two opponents.

Typically, a sportsbook will use a spread to level the playing field between the two teams when they're not matched by skill level.

Standard Spread Example:

Green Bay Packers (+3.5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5)

Let's say that the matchup finished 24-17 in favor of the Bengals. The Bengals won by seven points and therefore covered the -3.5 spread. You would win your spread bet on the Bengals.

Pick'em Spread (or Lack Thereof)

When a match is regarded as a pick'em in sports betting, the spread might typically be so tight that the sportsbook does not go with an option. After all, they do not need to place a handicap to even the field.

Instead, the bettor will play moneyline odds. If a spread is offered, it might be so tight as not to make a bet worthwhile.

As an example, two baseball teams may be so evenly matched that the sportsbook can't add a spread of more than 0.5 points (or runs) on either team. The bettor would instead opt for a moneyline bet on whichever team they thought might win.

How to Bet a Pick'em the Right Way

A pick'em in sports betting is a tough bet to place, as the sportsbook isn't providing you with any insight into what is likely to happen.

To improve your chances of winning a pick'em, consider the following, which might give you the confidence to back one team over the other:

Home Advantage

With so little to choose between the two teams, home advantage is likely to play a part in the outcome of a pick'em.

While it won't be good advice every time, the home team often has a slight psychological advantage.

The crowd, familiar surroundings, and no travel fatigue all contribute to home field advantage—even in professional sports.

Power Ratings

In sports betting, you can utilize a team's power rating to determine how likely they are to win a matchup.

Of course, this relies on you having your own power ratings set for teams in the competition or access to someone else who has done so.

Power ratings are essentially a score you assign to a team out of 100 based on:

Overall team strength
Offensive and defensive capabilities
Recent performance adjustments
Player availability and injuries

When two teams have similar power ratings, the matchup becomes a pick'em.

Form and Past Performance

It's always a good idea to take notice of form and past performance before placing a bet.

It might be the difference between a winning and a losing bet with a pick'em. While anything can happen on the day, the form of a team is likely to contribute to their performance.

Look at:

Last 5-10 games performance
Head-to-head history between these teams
Performance in similar situations
Recent roster changes or injuries

The Verdict: Should You Bet a Pick'em?

A pick'em in sports betting is a fairly regular occurrence and is something you need to look out for.

Remember, it's a situation where the sportsbook isn't sure who is most likely to win. Therefore, you must consider various other factors to try and increase your chances of winning the bet.

Key takeaway: Just because you can't discern a clear favorite or underdog, there's no reason not to bet on a pick'em. You will just need to consider as many factors as possible before placing your bet to increase your chances of winning.

Use tools like FairOdds Terminal to compare odds across bookmakers and identify when one bookmaker is offering slightly better value on a pick'em than others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pick'em in sports betting?

A pick'em occurs when both teams are seen as equal and a bet on each is worth the same amount of money. The odds don't always have to be exactly the same—people use the term loosely for matchups where both sides are around -110 or similar.

How is a pick'em different from the moneyline?

A pick'em is essentially a moneyline bet with no clear favorite. Standard moneylines show one team at (+) and another at (-), while pick'ems have both teams represented with similar negative numbers, indicating they're equally likely to win.

What happens to the spread with a pick'em?

When a match is a pick'em, bookmakers typically don't offer a meaningful spread since the teams are evenly matched. The spread might be so tight (0.5 points) that it's not worthwhile, so bettors use moneyline odds instead.

How do I bet a pick'em correctly?

Consider home advantage (home teams have psychological edge), use power ratings to evaluate teams objectively, analyze recent form and past performance, and look for any edge since the bookmaker isn't providing insight on likely outcomes.

Should I avoid betting on pick'ems?

No. Just because there's no clear favorite doesn't mean you should avoid pick'ems. You need to consider as many factors as possible to find an edge and increase your chances of winning the bet.

What sports have the most pick'em bets?

Basketball and football tend to have the most pick'em bets, particularly in big matchups at the business end of the season when evenly-matched teams face each other.