What is a 3-Way No Push Spread Bet? The Ultimate Guide for Beginners - 33rd Square (2024)

Hey there! As a fellow tech geek and sports betting enthusiast, I know learning about different wager types like 3-way no push spreads can be confusing at first. That‘s why I put together this comprehensive guide to explain everything you need to know in simple terms.

Get ready to become a 3-way betting expert!

Introduction to 3-Way Betting

Traditional betting lines come with two options: Team A or Team B. For spreads and totals, this leaves open the possibility of a Push if the margin lands exactly on the spread or total number.

3-way betting lines add a third "Draw" option to eliminate Pushes. Now, your betting options are:

• Team A covers the spread/over
• Team B covers the spread/under
• The game ends in a Draw

No matter the outcome, one of those three choices will win. That‘s why 3-way bets are known as "no push" betting lines.

I‘ll explain exactly how they work coming up. First though, let‘s look at why draws and ties occur in certain sports more than others.

Which Sports Have Draws and Ties?

Sports like soccer, hockey, and baseball regularly end with tied scores at the end of regulation. This makes them prime candidates for 3-way betting lines.

Specific stats:

• Soccer has around a 26% draw rate.
• Hockey finishes tied 20% of the time.
• Baseball sees draws in about 3-5% of matches.

Now compare that to basketball and football. The NBA and NFL end in a tie less than 1% of games because they play extra periods to determine a winner.

So while 3-way betting can apply to any sport, it‘s most popular in soccer, hockey, baseball, and other sports where draws are fairly frequent.

Next, let‘s go over how 3-way moneyline, spread and total betting works…

3-Way Moneyline Betting

A standard moneyline requires you to pick Team A or Team B straight up as the winner. A 3-way moneyline adds the Draw as a third option.

For example:

Arsenal is the favorite at -150 odds, meaning a $150 bet wins $100. Chelsea is the underdog at +190 so a $100 bet profits $190.

But the Draw has the highest payout at +280. This rewards bettors for taking the lower probability tie outcome.

If you bet $100 on Draw and the match finished 1-1, you would win $280 on top of your original stake.

Betting 3-Way Spreads

In standard spread betting, Team A must cover the spread by a certain margin to win the bet. A 3-way spread adds a Draw option if the margin lands exactly on the spread.

For example:

Here the Rangers are -0.5 favorites. That means they must win by 1+ goal for -0.5 bets to cash. The Hurricanes are +0.5 underdogs, so they can lose by 1 or win outright for +0.5 bets to win.

The Draw hits if the Rangers win by exactly 0.5 goals. It has +250 odds compared to -110 for both sides.

3-Way Totals Over/Under Betting

A totals bet requires you to predict whether the total points or goals will go Over or Under a set line. 3-way totals add the Exactly option:

• Over 2.5 Goals
• Exactly 2 Goals
• Under 2.5 Goals

If the total is 3 or more, Over bets win. If it‘s 1 or 0, Under bets cash. If the total lands on exactly 2 goals, then Exactly bets win.

This gives you three ways to win on totals without the potential for a Push.

Why "No Push" Betting is Better

Removing Pushes is the big benefit of 3-way betting lines. Sportsbooks build in "juice" or vigorish to account for pushes on 2-way bets.

In 3-way markets, one side will always win so books can offer better odds and payouts. There‘s no need for the extra juice to offset pushes.

Let‘s say the total for Jets vs. Patriots is 48. A standard line may look like:

• Over 48 -105
• Under 48 -115

But with 3 options, the odds can be:

• Over 48 -110
• Exactly 48 +275
• Under 48 -110

The Exactly option has far higher +275 odds than either Over or Under -110 payouts. This accurately reflects the lower chance of that precise total.

The Importance of Draw/Tie Odds

If you‘re new to 3-way betting, looking at the Draw odds is key. These give you a sense of the chance of that outcome.

In low-scoring sports like soccer or hockey, draws have lower +200 to +300 odds. In high-scoring basketball and football, ties have astronomic +4000 or higher odds.

You‘ll also see "fat" draw odds when books feel the tie chance is greater than the odds suggest. This is where smart bettors find overlay and value.

For example if the odds are:

• Bayern Munich -180 (55% implied probability)
• Draw +400 (20%)
• Dortmund +360 (25%)

Total implied probability adds up to 100%, but the Draw odds are "fatter" than historical rates. In Bundesliga play, draws occur 27% of the time.

That extra 7% of implied probability gives the Draw bet great value. Being able to spot these opportunities is key to long-term betting success.

Betting Strategies – How to Pick the Best Option

Knowing when to bet on each side is crucial for 3-way wagering. Here are some strategies I use:

• If teams are evenly matched, take the Draw. Tie probability rises in contests between opponents of equal strength.

• When favorites have a clear edge, bet them to win decisively. For example in soccer, bet superior teams to avoid the draw.

• In major mismatches, consider the heavy underdog‘s odds. Big dogs will have higher payouts and are live to pull upsets.

• Study historical trends and stats for each team and matchup type. Favorites and dogs who typically draw could bring value.

• Home field advantage also sways draw probability. The home side draws far less often.

These are just a few approaches. With study and practice, you‘ll get better at assessing when to bet each side.

How Overtime Works in 3-Way Betting

One quirk of 3-way lines is how they handle extra periods and overtime. Rules differ across sports:

• Soccer: 3-way bets are based on regulation 90 minutes. Extra time doesn‘t count.

• Hockey: Includes overtime and shootout results.

• Baseball: Only regulation innings count. Extra innings are excluded.

• Basketball/Football: Varies by sportsbook rules. Some settle based on regulation.

Be sure to check how each book grades 3-way bets in a given sport. Pay close attention in cases like football where overtime greatly alters tie probability.

Where to Bet 3-Way Lines Online

Many top sportsbooks now offer 3-way betting markets. Here are some of the best options:

BetMGM – Extensive 3-way lines on soccer, hockey, and baseball. Occasional basketball and football too.

FanDuel – Carries 3-way totals and spreads on select NFL, NBA, and NHL games.

DraftKings – Provides 3-way MLB moneylines and runs lines. Limited 3-way NBA and NHL.

PointsBet – Strong soccer 3-way betting. Also posts NHL, MLB, and basketball.

Bet365 – The gold standard for soccer 3-ways. Offered for all major leagues and tournaments.

In general, I‘ve found BetMGM, FanDuel, and PointsBet to have the most 3-way betting variety. Shop around for the best odds!

Historical 3-Way Betting Statistics and Probabilities

To finish up, I wanted to share some stats on draw probability and historical 3-way betting results:

These numbers illustrate the importance of sport-specific research. Tie probability differs widely, so you can‘t use blanket draw odds assumptions.

I like to track these percentages and odds over long periods to spot value. Books occasionally lag in adjusting their 3-way lines.

Hopefully this guide covered everything you could want to know about 3-way no push spread betting. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help educate fellow sports betting geeks.

Now go crush those 3-way bets!

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