A pick'em — abbreviated on bet slips as PK — means there is no point spread: neither team is favored, both sides carry roughly even odds, and the standard price at legal US sportsbooks is -110 on each side. Per BetMGM's educational blog and Legal Sports Report, the moneyline becomes the primary bet available because there is no margin of victory to cover.
What Does "No Spread" Actually Mean in a Pick'em Game?
In a standard spread bet, the sportsbook attaches a margin — say, Chiefs -6.5 — that the favorite must exceed for backers to win. When that spread reads PK or 0, the margin disappears entirely. You are simply wagering on which team wins the game outright, no cushion required.
A real-world example: imagine the Eagles host the Cowboys and the oddsmakers cannot separate the two teams. The line posts Eagles PK -110 / Cowboys PK -110. Back the Eagles, they win by one point, you win — no spread to clear.
Why Is the Price -110 and Not Even Money?
The -110 price is the sportsbook's built-in commission, known as the vig or juice. You wager $110 to profit $100, which means you need to win approximately 52.4% of your pick'em bets just to break even over time. Our full breakdown of that math is in the Vig and Juice in Sports Betting — Why -110 Costs You 2.4% guide.
Some books shade one side to -115 or -105 when late public money tilts toward one team even on a zero-spread game — so always confirm the price before you confirm the bet.
When Do Sportsbooks Post a Pick'em Line?
Books post a PK when their models and early betting action suggest the contest is genuinely too close to call. It appears most often in regular-season NFL and college football matchups between evenly matched divisional opponents, but you will also see it in NBA, NHL, and MLB when rosters are at full health and home-field advantage barely registers.
For football-specific context on how that zero-spread line shows up on a real bet slip, see the NFL Pick'em Betting — What PK Means on Your Bet Slip guide.
Pick'em vs. Moneyline — Are They the Same Thing?
Not exactly. A moneyline bet always lets you back a team outright, but the prices reflect the implied probability of each outcome — a heavy favorite might be -350. In a pick'em game, the moneyline is priced at or near -110/-110 because the teams are considered equals. Think of a PK as a specific type of moneyline situation rather than a separate bet category.
How Pick'em Lines Relate to Spread Picks
Understanding PK is a natural extension of learning how spreads work. Our page on How NFL Spread Picks Work — Favorites, Underdogs and Cover Math walks through how oddsmakers set a number, and you'll see that PK is simply the endpoint of that process when the number reaches zero. If you want the full terminology picture, the Sports Betting Glossary — Every Picks Term You Need to Know ties all these concepts together in one reference.
Quick Reference: Pick'em (PK) at a Glance
| Feature | Standard Spread Bet | Pick'em (PK) |
|---|---|---|
| Point spread | Set number (e.g., -6.5) | Zero / none |
| Typical price | -110 / -110 | -110 / -110 |
| Win condition | Cover the spread | Win the game outright |
| Break-even win rate | ~52.4% | ~52.4% |
Legal Sportsbooks and Pick'em Availability
Pick'em lines are available at all major licensed operators — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook among them — in legal sports betting states. As of mid-2026, 39 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico have authorized legal wagering following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that struck down PASPA. For your state's current status, the Where Sports Betting Is Legal in 2026 — State-by-State Guide has the full picture, and RG.org's regulatory tracker lists each state's regulator and launch date.
Most states set the minimum betting age at 21; a few permit 18+. Always confirm the rule where you physically are when the bet is placed — geolocation determines eligibility, not your home address. Must be 21+ (18+ in some states). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.