How to play
Get from zero to making picks in 60 seconds. No real money — bragging rights only.
Once you are in a league, a week runs like this
Setting one up instead? That is three steps on the home page.
The board opens
Real games with real spreads appear as soon as the lines are posted.
You pick a side
Against the spread, the total, or the moneyline. Locks at kickoff.
The game settles it
Picks grade themselves the minute the final goes up. No arguing.
The basics
The basics
Pick 'Em Network is a friendly competition where you predict the outcomes of real sports games. It's your chance to prove you really do know sports better than your friends.
How it works
- No real money — purely fun and bragging rights.
- Multiple sports — NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, MLB, soccer, CFL.
- Real games — pick on the same games sportsbooks list, with the same odds.
- Three pick types — spread, total (over/under), moneyline.
- Live scoring — picks resolve as soon as games complete.
Understanding sports odds
Understanding sports odds
Spread (point spread)
The spread evens out the matchup by giving the underdog a head-start in points. If Patriots are −7, they need to win by more than 7. If you pick the +7 side, they win or lose by less than 7 — or win outright — for your pick to hit.
Total (over/under)
The total is the combined score expected from both teams. If the total is 48.5, you pick Over (49+) or Under (≤48). Defense or weather games go Under; shootouts go Over.
Moneyline
The simplest pick — just pick the winner straight up. The catch: favorites and underdogs have different point values. Picking a heavy favorite is "safer" but worth fewer points than picking an underdog who pulls the upset.
How scoring works
How scoring works
Each correct pick earns you points. Different pick types are worth different amounts; a typical scoring system looks like:
Push & cancel
- Push — game lands exactly on the spread or total. No points awarded, no points lost.
- Cancelled / postponed — pick refunded automatically.
- League customization — admins can tune point values per pick type in league settings.
Tips & strategy
Tips & strategy
For beginners
- Start with sports you actually watch.
- Pick early. Lines move as kickoff gets close.
- A bad week is just a week. The next one starts clean.
- Watch a few weeks before you lean on underdogs.
For competitive players
- Underdogs are worth more: one +200 underdog that hits can outscore three favorites.
- Know your strengths: review your pick history to see which sport / pick type you're strongest in.
- Watch the line move: when a spread shifts toward one side, the people who watch closest are on it.
- Mind the injury report: a key player ruled out hours before tipoff changes the game.
Ready to start?
Ready to start?
Your first week game plan:
Join or create a league
Get a code from friends or start your own.
Make your first picks
Start with games you know — pick a few favorites to get comfortable.
Follow your games
Watch how your picks resolve and learn from the results.
Check the leaderboard
See where you stack up. Get motivated for next week.
Every expert was once a beginner. The more you play, the better you'll get.