A pick’em (also written as pick ’em, pick-em, or simply PK) is a game where the sportsbook considers both teams equally matched – so there’s no point spread, and both sides are priced at the same odds.

You’re not picking who covers a spread. You’re just picking who wins.

How a pick’em appears on the betting board

In the spot where a point spread would normally appear, you’ll see one of these:

• PK
• Pick
• Pick’em
• 0 (zero spread)

The moneyline odds on both sides are typically identical – most commonly -110/-110, the standard starting price for spread bets.

Example:

A $110 bet on either team wins $100 profit if that team wins the game outright.

Pick’em vs. moneyline vs. spread

These three terms cause confusion because a pick’em overlaps with both.

Point spread bet – the favorite gives points, the underdog receives them. You pick who covers, not necessarily who wins.

Moneyline bet – you pick the outright winner. Odds reflect the probability: favorites pay less, underdogs pay more.

Pick’em – a specific type of moneyline situation where both teams are priced equally, because neither has a discernible edge. The spread is zero.

The practical difference: in a normal moneyline game, a heavy favorite might be -250 and the underdog +200. In a pick’em, both sides sit at -110.

How it works by sport

NFL – True pick’ems are relatively rare. Most NFL games have at least a small spread. When one does appear, be aware that NFL regular season games can end in a tie – which would make your pick’em bet a push (stake returned, no win or loss).

You’ll also occasionally see a hook (+0.5 / -0.5) on pick’em games – technically still a pick’em, but the half-point becomes significant in overtime situations that end in a tie.

NBA – Pick’ems exist but are uncommon, since basketball almost always produces a clear winner. NBA games can’t end in a tie, so no push risk.

MLB – Pick’ems are common in baseball because moneyline betting is already the standard format. When two starters are closely matched, you’ll regularly see both sides at -110.

NHL – Similar to MLB. Hockey is moneyline-based, so even pricing appears frequently when teams are viewed as evenly matched.

Soccer – Pick’em in soccer works differently. Because draws are a genuine outcome, a PK bet in soccer typically functions as draw no bet: if the game ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. You’re backing a team to win outright, with the draw acting as insurance. This is distinct from a standard 3-way moneyline where backing a team to win and seeing a draw means a loss.

Example of soccer PK:

• Manchester United PK (-110): bet wins if United win; stake returned if draw
• Liverpool PK (-110): bet wins if Liverpool win; stake returned if draw

Can a pick’em line move?

Yes. Even when a game opens as a pick’em, betting action can shift the odds.

If money comes in heavily on one side, the sportsbook adjusts to balance their book. You might see:

• Opens -110/-110 (pick’em)
• Moves to -112/-108 (still technically a pick’em, slight lean to one side)
• Could shift further to -115/-105 or eventually develop a half-point spread

The fact that a game was priced as a pick’em doesn’t mean the market agrees it’s truly 50/50. It means the oddsmaker’s model saw no clear edge – but bettors can and do disagree.

Pick’em contests – a second meaning

The word „pick’em” also refers to a separate type of fantasy sports contest popular in daily fantasy platforms like Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks.

In these pick’em contests, you’re not betting on game outcomes. You’re selecting whether individual player statistics (points, yards, assists, etc.) will be Over or Under projected amounts. Hit enough picks correctly on a multi-leg entry and you win a multiplied payout.

This use of the word is unrelated to the betting line meaning. Context tells you which one someone means.

Should you bet pick’em games?

The sportsbook is telling you they can’t find a clear edge either way – that’s a signal, not an invitation. Pick’em games are genuinely hard to handicap because the publicly available information has already been priced in.

That said, there are reasons to look more closely:

• One team is playing better recently despite equal overall records
• Home field may not be reflected if the oddsmaker weighted it differently
• Injury news arrived after the line was set
• Scheduling – one team on a back-to-back, the other well-rested

If you can’t identify a specific reason to lean one way, the pick’em is telling you something: neither side has obvious value.

Related terms

PK – the abbreviation for pick’em on a betting board
Spread – the point handicap assigned to favor one team; absent in a pick’em
Moneyline – bet on the outright winner; a pick’em is a moneyline with equal odds
Push – a tie result where stakes are returned; relevant in NFL pick’ems that end in a draw
Draw no bet – the soccer equivalent of a pick’em; stake refunded on a draw
Hook – a half-point added to a spread; in pick’em context (+0.5/-0.5) is near-identical to PK but matters in overtime ties
Juice (vig) – the sportsbook’s margin, built into the -110 pricing on both sides of a pick’em

FAQs

What does PK mean on a betting line?
PK stands for pick’em. It means neither team is favored – both sides are priced equally, usually -110, and you simply pick the outright winner.

Is a pick’em the same as a moneyline bet?
Essentially yes. A pick’em is a moneyline bet where both teams are priced the same. The difference from a standard moneyline is that normal moneylines have unequal odds reflecting the favorite vs. underdog dynamic.

What happens if an NFL pick’em game ends in a tie?
The bet is a push – your stake is returned with no win or loss. NFL regular season games can end in ties, which makes this a real consideration.

How does a pick’em work in soccer?
In soccer, a PK bet usually operates as draw no bet: if the game ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. You only lose if the team you backed actually loses.

Can a pick’em become a spread game?
Yes. If betting action comes in heavily on one side, the line can shift from a pick’em to a half-point or even full-point spread as the sportsbook adjusts to balance action.