Looking for a way to add an extra layer of fun to the biggest football event of the year? And no, we're not talking about Ree's Tex-Mex layer dip (which you should certainly include on your Super Bowl snacks table)! We're talking Super Bowl party games—specifically Super Bowl squares!
This popular activity can transform the way you experience the big game, providing even more excitement and friendly competition among participants. And everyone can play! Whether you're a die-hard football fan (like the Drummonds) or just tuning in for the Super Bowl commercials or halftime show, you're sure to enjoy a Super Bowl squares showdown.
But how do you play Super Bowl squares? We've got you covered. In this guide, we'll walk you through setup, rules, and tips so that you can make the most out of this classic game day tradition. We've even included a handy (and cute) printable for you to use. With a bit of strategy and a lot of luck, the game might turn this year's Super Bowl party into your most memorable event yet... made even better if your favorite team wins, of course. 😉
So, gather your friends, grab your grid, and get ready to cheer for those winning squares!
Download the Super Bowl squares template here.
How to Set Up Super Bowl Squares
Create a Grid
Let's get right into the game! Starting Super Bowl squares is actually pretty simple. First, you'll want to create your grid! For this, you can either print out our easy-to-use printable, or draw your own. A standard Super Bowl square is a 10-by-10 grid. After you've made your grid, assign one of the football teams to the columns and the other football team to the rows—this year, that's the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
Assign Squares
It's time to assign squares to participants! Anyone who wants in on the fun should choose squares on the grid, either randomly or through a predetermined system. Typically, the game is played with a money reward. To do this, set a price per square and have people buy into as many squares as they’d like to create your prize pool. Hint: The more squares a person selects, the better their chances of winning. And the more squares that are bought, the greater the payout for the winner. This also means that the more people you have playing, the more difficult it is to win.
You may also choose to skip the money reward and just divide squares evenly based on the amount of players you have, then hand out other prizes (like football gifts) at the end.
Fill in the Grid
As everyone chooses their squares, write their initials in the corresponding boxes. After all players have claimed their squares, randomly assign numbers 0-9 to each row, then do the same to each column. You can do this using the tried and true pick-numbers-out-of-a-hat method or with an online random number generator. These numbers represent the last digit of each team's score at the end of each quarter. On our printable, you can put these numbers in the light blue spaces along the top and side of the grid. Be sure to leave the darker blue square in the middle of these blank. The white squares are the squares to be picked and initialed.
Here's a few tips for picking your squares: If possible, you'll want to select squares across different rows and columns to increase your chances of winning in each quarter. It's also helpful to know the scoring tendencies of each team as this can help you strategically choose your boxes.
How to Play Super Bowl Squares
To play Super Bowl squares, the first step is watching the game (or at least paying enough attention to know the score). 😂 At the end of each quarter, look at the last number of the score for each team. The person whose square corresponds with the intersection of the second digit of each team’s score wins that quarter's prize. For example: a 21-14 score at the end of the first quarter pays out whoever chose the square at row 1, column 4. If nobody chose that specific square, you can choose to roll over the money to the next quarter.
Payouts typically get higher as the game continues and are highest for the final score. Think: 10% of the total pool for the first quarter, 15% for the second quarter, 20% for the third quarter, and 55% for the final score. Though it's less common, you might also choose to give out the prize money based on the score at the end of each half, or just do one big payout on the final score—it's all completely up to you. The only real rule is to make sure everyone is having fun!
Now, let the games (and grids) begin! 🏈
Macie Reynolds
Assistant Editor
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
FAQs
How to win Super Bowl squares. Winning typically involves the score by the end of each quarter. The numbers on each side of the grid represent the last digit of the AFC team's score and the other represents the last digit of the NFC team's score, and whoever has that square when the quarter ends, wins.
How do Super Bowl squares work with overtime? ›
Overtime. A common question that arises is: "If the game goes into overtime, do you use the 4th Quarter Score or do you use the Final Score?" Unless stated otherwise by the pool administrator, the final score should be used in place of the 4th quarter score if the game goes into overtime.
What is the strategy for Super Bowl squares? ›
Is there a strategy for picking Super Bowl squares? Because squares are chosen at random before the numbers are filled in, there is no strategy in selecting your squares. Picking a square in the middle of the board vs. picking a square in the corner of the board will give you the same odds of winning.
How to play football squares for beginners? ›
Players can pay an ante for a square and, once each square has been assigned to a player, each square on the grid will then randomly be assigned a number, 0-9. At that point, players at home will then eye the last number of the score: Whichever square corresponds with the last number of both teams will win.
How do tournament squares work? ›
Just like Super Bowl squares, the game requires a 10-by-10 grid with digits 0-9 on both axes, forming 100 squares correlating to those digits. One axis is the winning team's score; the other is the losing team's score. You win by having a square that matches the end digits of the final score of a game.
How is the squares game played? ›
Super Bowl squares are played on a 10 by 10 grid that has a similar look to it as a bingo card. Each team is assigned to an axis, and each column and row is assigned a number from 0 to 9. Participating in the game itself is as simple as selecting one of those 100 squares.
What is the payout for the $5 Super Bowl squares? ›
If a square costs $5 each, there are 100 squares at $5 each, so the total in the prize pool is $500. You could do $125 per quarter (125 x 4 = 500). You could do $100 for the first three quarters and $200 for the final score.
What is the format for the Super Bowl squares? ›
In most Super Bowl squares, a winner will be determined at the end of the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, plus the final game score. The winner is decided by looking at the last number in each teams' score and then matching those digits on the grid to see where the squares intersect.
What Super Bowl squares win the most? ›
In general, the more 0, 3 and 7 squares you have, the better, because they never go out of style. (The first number listed in these combinations is for the home team, which in this Super Bowl is technically the Chiefs. Obviously there is no real home-field advantage in the Super Bowl.)
What's the best square to pick in a football pool? ›
The best squares to have are 0, 1, 3, 4 and 7 because they are the most frequent last digit numbers, since touchdowns are worth seven points and field goals are worth three. In a 2013 blog post, the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective wrote that the single best square to have is seven on the betting favorite's axis.
Zero, three or seven are the ending digit 102 times out of a possible 114 times (89.5 percent) at the end of the first quarter. Those are the best numbers you can have, but that's especially true early in games. No team has ever ended a first quarter with a 1, 2 or 5.
How do you win at Squares? ›
When squares are auctioned after the column and rows are numbered, owners want boxes that correspond with totals of scoring plays, such as touchdowns and field goals. To win, a person needs to own the box that corresponds to the last digit of the score for each team.
How to distribute Super Bowl squares? ›
Example of a Super Bowl Squares payout structure
The most common way to structure the payout is one winner for each quarter (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and then a 4th winner for the final square. The payouts can either be equal, or increase in amount for each quarter, with the final score of the game winning the most.
What happens if Super Bowl squares don't get filled? ›
What happens if the Grid doesn't, or won't fill up? When it comes to potentially not filling up a Grid, it is up to the Admin to decide how to handle it, but we usually recommend simply reducing the price of your squares and letting your existing Users select more Squares at the same price.
How do you make money on football squares? ›
Sell Squares:
You can randomly assign participants to squares, or you can have them choose which squares they'd like to purchase. You also need to determine the prize money. Typically, winners are chosen at the end of each quarter, with a portion of the proceeds going to the winners and the rest to your cause.
How do you win the squares game? ›
To win, a person needs to own the box that corresponds to the last digit of the score for each team. For instance, if the Chiefs hold a 6-0 lead after one quarter, the person who owns the square with Kansas City 6 and San Francisco 0 wins. That person also wins if the first quarter ends with the 49ers leading 10-6.
How does Super Bowl squares work as a fundraiser? ›
Basically, individuals sign up for a square at $10/square. At the end of each quarter/inning/ period, if your square matches the last number of each team's score, you win! $125 per quarter, per win for the “owner” of the square, and $125 for your 2-Day fundraising.
How much does the Super Bowl squares pay every score change? ›
Each person gets eight numbers. $500 paid on starting score of each quarter-whoever has 0/0 at the start of the game wins $500. $1,000 is paid on the winning score. $200 is paid on each score change.
