What Happens If You Bet Moneyline And It’s A Tie in an NFL Game?

In the NFL, tie games are a rarer occurrence than in other sports but they do happen. If you bet moneyline and it's a tie, NFL wagers enter a unique situation for bettors and sportsbooks alike.

If you bet on the moneyline and there's a tie, most sportsbooks will grade the bet as a push. This means that the wager amount is returned to the bettor, effectively canceling the bet as if it never happened.

It's important to note that ties are not a common outcome in the NFL. Most games are decided in regulation time or overtime, leading to a clear winner. 

However, bettors should be aware of the possibility of a tie and understand how it affects their wagers.

When it comes to NFL betting, the standard moneyline bet is typically a two-way moneyline. 

This type of bet offers two possible outcomes: either Team A wins or Team B wins. Unlike some other sports where draws are more common, NFL games are usually played until a winner is determined, even if it requires overtime.

The two-way moneyline simplifies betting by eliminating the possibility of a tie as a separate betting option.

In the rare event of a tie after overtime, the bet is typically called a push, and the wager amount is returned to the bettor.

This low likelihood of draws is why sportsbooks generally offer two-way moneylines for NFL games, in contrast to sports like soccer where three-way moneylines (including a draw option) are more common.

While moneyline bets focus solely on picking the outright winner, spread bets introduce a point handicap to level the playing field between favorites and underdogs. 

In spread betting, the favorite must win by more than the specified point spread, while the underdog can lose by less than the spread or win outright.

Moneyline betting offers a more straightforward approach, as bettors only need to predict which team will win. However, this simplicity often comes with less favorable odds, especially when betting on heavy favorites.

Tie games can have significant implications for parlay bets (whether they are same-game or multi-event) that include moneyline selections. 

In a parlay, multiple bets are combined into a single wager, with all selections needing to win for the parlay to pay out.

When a tie occurs in one leg of a parlay, that selection is typically graded as a push and removed from the parlay. The remaining selections continue as a smaller parlay with adjusted odds. 

For example, if a four-team parlay includes a game that ends in a tie, it effectively becomes a three-team parlay.

It's crucial for bettors to understand how their chosen sportsbook handles ties in parlays, as policies may vary. 

Some sportsbooks may grade the entire parlay as a loss if any selection results in a tie, while others may reduce it and continue with the remaining selections.

When dealing with moneyline bets, understanding how to calculate potential profits is essential for making informed decisions. 

American odds, the standard format in NFL betting, can be converted to implied probabilities to better assess the value of a bet.

For positive odds (underdogs), the calculation is: 100 / (odds + 100) = implied probability For negative odds (favorites), it's: |odds| / (|odds| + 100) = implied probability

Example: If the Kansas City Chiefs are listed at -150, their implied probability of winning is 60% (150 / (150 + 100) = 0.6).

Bettors should compare these implied probabilities with their own assessment of the teams' chances to identify potential value bets. 

It's also important to consider factors such as injuries, team form, and head-to-head records when making moneyline bets.

Developing a sound strategy for moneyline betting can help improve long-term profitability. 

One approach is to focus on underdogs with positive odds, as these bets offer the potential for larger profits relative to the wager amount.

Another strategy involves betting on slight favorites where the odds aren't too prohibitive. This can provide a balance between the likelihood of winning and the potential profit.

It's also worth noting that some bettors prefer to avoid moneyline bets on heavy favorites, as the potential profit may not justify the risk involved. 

In such cases, spread betting or other markets may offer more appealing options.

Understanding how moneyline bets work in the NFL, particularly in the rare event of a tie game, is crucial for sports bettors. While ties are uncommon, knowing how they affect wagers can help bettors make more informed decisions and avoid potential confusion.

Moneyline betting offers a straightforward way to wager on NFL games, focusing solely on picking the outright winner. However, bettors should always consider the odds, implied probabilities, and various factors that can influence the game's outcome before placing their bets.

With careful analysis and a solid understanding of how moneyline bets work, including the possibility of ties, you can enhance your NFL betting experience.