In sports betting, a “Pick’em” is a situation where there is no clear favorite in a game or event. Both teams or players are considered evenly matched, and the odds of winning are roughly equal for both sides.
In a Pick’em, the sportsbooks have determined that the game is so closely matched that there is no point spread. Neither team is given any points advantage or disadvantage.
When you bet on a Pick’em, you are essentially choosing who you think will win the game outright. Since there is no point spread to cover, it’s a straight-up bet on the winner.
In a Pick’em scenario, the Moneyline odds for both teams will usually be the same or very close. This differs from typical Moneyline betting where there is a distinct favorite and underdog with different odds.
Sportsbooks set a game as a Pick’em when their analysis suggests that the teams are evenly matched, making it difficult to set a point spread. This could be due to various factors such as team performance, injuries, home-field advantage, or other variables that could influence the outcome.
Pick’em situations are more common in sports like the NBA, where parity among teams can be high. For instance, if the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers are playing and the sportsbooks believe both teams have an equal chance of winning, the game might be listed as a Pick’em.
In a Pick’em, since there is no point spread, bettors should focus on which team they believe is more likely to win, considering factors like recent performance, head-to-head matchups, player injuries, and other strategic elements of the game.
The payouts are generally even or close to even for both sides, minus the vig (the sportsbooks fee), making it essentially a 50/50 bet.