Sports betting is a billion-dollar industry, and with so much money on the line, everyone wants to ensure that their bet has the best chance of paying off. One way of accomplishing this is by adjusting their wagers according to what is known as the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ of the game. The ‘push’ refers to the betting line and the amount of money being wagered on one side of the game, while the ‘pull’ refers to the betting line and the amount of money being wagered on the other side of the game.
These limits change constantly, so it’s important to understand what they are and how to apply them. Here are some common scenarios and how to place winning wagers within those limits.
The Push
The push refers to the betting line and the amount of money being wagered on one side of the game. For example, if there is a -200 line on the NFL game between the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints, which team will score the most points? The Titans have the better offense, but the line is -200, meaning that the Saints have the advantage in terms of the payout if they score more points. Now, it is likely that this number will change after the opening kickoff, as people are likely to bet on the game according to what is known as the ‘hunch’ that they have about which team will win the game. But for the rest of the game, the Titans have the advantage as long as the line stays above -200.
The ‘pull’ refers to the other side of the game and the amount of money being wagered on that side of the game. For example, if the Titans and Saints are still playing and the line is now -275, which team will score next? Most people will say the Saints, because they are now favored, but the pull will still be in favor of the Titans, because the line is still below the -275 threshold. This is known as a ‘soft’ or ‘hedged’ push or pull. Typically, the amount of money that is wagered on the side with the advantage is known as the ‘running’ or ‘hard’ push or pull.
The Pull
Like the push, the pull refers to the other side of the game and the amount of money being wagered on that side of the game. However, in the case of the pull, the amount of money being wagered on the side being played is subtracted from the amount of money being wagered on the other side of the game, instead of added. So, if the Titans and the Saints are playing and the line is now -275, which team will score next? Most people will say the Saints, because they are now favored, but the line is still below -275, so the pull will still be in favor of the Titans. This is known as a ‘counter-intuitive’ or ‘dog-piling’ strategy that you might see in a blackjack game or in poker. When someone rolls over Jacks or Better on the poker chip denominations in front of them, the other players typically pile on, since they believe that the player with the highest card will win the pot.
Scenario 1: Winning Within Limits
The first scenario that we will explore is how to place winning wagers when the limits change during the game. Say that the Titans and the Saints are still playing and the line is now -275. The Saints have the ball and they are driving down the field. They are now first and goal at the 4-yard line. Will they score a touchdown or will the Titans defense stand tall?
If you are a fan of the Saints and you believe that they will score a touchdown, then all you need to do is get all of your money on the other side of the line at +275 and hope that the touchdown happens. If it does, your entire wager will be refunded, since the line has changed and the amount that you bet on the Titans will now be greater than the amount that you bet on the Saints. Remember, the pull amounts are subtracted, not added, so even though your total bets will be the same, the refund will be greater because you bet more on the winning team (Saints) and less on the team that you did not want to win (Titans).
Scenario 2: Losing Within Limits
On the other hand, if you are a fan of the Titans and you believe that they will stop the Saints from scoring a touchdown, then all you need to do is get all of your money on the other side of the line at -275 and hope that the touchdown does not happen. If it does, then you will lose your entire wager, since the line has changed and the amount that you bet on the Saints will now be less than the amount that you bet on the Titans. Remember, the pull amounts are subtracted, not added, so even though your total bets will be the same, the refund will be greater because you bet more on the winning team (Saints) and less on the team that you did not want to win (Titans).
An important thing to note is that you can place a wager on both the Titans and the Saints in this scenario, but you cannot get paid if both teams score. This is because the pull amount that you have wagered on the winning team will be subtracted from the amount that you have wagered on the losing team. So, if the Titans and the Saints both score, you will lose the portion of your wager that is on the other side of the line, since the line has moved, even though your total bets will be the same. This is also why it is important to keep track of which team is on top at all times, especially if you are trying to follow a counter-intuitive or ‘dog-piling’ strategy and make the most out of your bets.
Scenario 3: Changing Lines During Half Time
Here’s another scenario where the limits change during the game, but this time, it is during half time. Say that the Titans and the Saints are playing and the score is 0-0 headed into halftime. The Titans have the ball and are driving up the field. Will they score a touchdown or will the Saints defense stand tall?
If you are a fan of the Saints and you believe that they will score a touchdown during the first half, then all you need to do is get all of your money on the other side of the line at +275 and hope that the touchdown happens. If it does, your entire wager will be refunded, as the line has now changed and the amount that you bet on the Titans will now be less than the amount that you bet on the Saints. Remember, the pull amounts are subtracted, not added, so even though your total bets will be the same, the refund will be greater because you bet more on the winning team (Saints) and less on the team that you did not want to win (Titans).
Scenario 4: Losing After Half Time
On the other hand, if you are a fan of the Titans and you believe that they will stop the Saints from scoring a touchdown, then all you need to do is get all of your money on the other side of the line at -275 and hope that the touchdown does not happen. If it does, then you will lose your entire wager, since the line has changed and the amount that you bet on the Saints will now be less than the amount that you bet on the Titans. Remember, the pull amounts are subtracted, not added, so even though your total bets will be the same, the refund will be greater because you bet more on the winning team (Saints) and less on the team that you did not want to win (Titans).
An important thing to note is that you can place a wager on both the Titans and the Saints in this scenario, but you cannot get paid if either team scores after half time. This is because the pull amount that you have wagered on the winning team will be subtracted from the amount that you have wagered on the losing team. So, if the Titans and the Saints both score after half time, you will lose the portion of your wager that is on the other side of the line, since the line has moved, even though your total bets will be the same. This is also why it is important to keep track of which team is on top at all times, especially if you are trying to follow a counter-intuitive or ‘dog-piling’ strategy and make the most out of your bets.