It is the same scene every February. Someone realizes three days before kickoff that nobody organized the office pool, and suddenly, there is a frantic scramble for a super bowl squares sheet that doesn't look like it was designed in 1998. You've seen the one. It’s usually a blurry PDF or a hand-drawn grid on a piece of poster board with crooked lines and smudged ink.
Squares are the great equalizer of Super Bowl Sunday. You don't actually have to know anything about football to win. My aunt, who once asked if the quarterback was allowed to use his hands, won $400 last year because the game ended in a weird 31-24 score. That's the beauty of it. It is pure, unadulterated luck masked as a sports activity.
Why Your Super Bowl Squares Sheet Strategy Is Probably Wrong
Most people think the numbers you get are just "whatever." They aren't. While the assignment of numbers is random, the value of those numbers is wildly different. If you end up with a 7 and a 0, you’re basically holding a winning lottery ticket. If you get a 2 and a 5? Honestly, you might as well just consider that money a donation to the host’s beer fund.
The math behind this is actually pretty interesting if you're into that sort of thing. Football scoring happens in chunks of 3 and 7. Field goals and touchdowns. Because of this, the final digit of scores tends to cluster around specific numbers. According to historical data from thousands of NFL games, the number 0 is the king of squares. Why? Because scores like 10, 20, 30, and 10-0 are incredibly common at the end of quarters.
The Numbers You Actually Want
If you are looking at your completed super bowl squares sheet and seeing these combinations, you should be feeling pretty good:
- 0 and 7: The gold standard. 7-0, 17-10, 27-17. It happens constantly.
- 0 and 3: Field goals are the reason. 13-10 is a very "football" score.
- 7 and 3: The classic first-quarter score.
- 4 and 7: Think 14-7 or 24-17.
On the flip side, 2, 5, 8, and 9 are the "death" numbers. It takes a very specific, weird combination of safeties or missed extra points to land on an 8. If you have the 2/5 square, you are basically praying for a kicker to have the worst day of his professional career.
Setting Up the Grid: More Than Just Drawing Lines
You need a 10x10 grid. That’s 100 squares. If you have a small group, people can buy multiple squares. If you have a massive office, you might need two separate sheets.
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Here is the part everyone messes up: Do not write the numbers in until the squares are full. If you put the numbers 0-9 across the top and side before people buy in, everyone will just cherry-pick the 7s and 0s. The 2s and 5s will sit there empty like the last kids picked for dodgeball. You have to sell the squares first, let people write their names in the boxes, and then draw the numbers out of a hat. Use a deck of cards or pieces of paper. One set of 0-9 for the top row (usually the AFC or the "Home" team) and one set of 0-9 for the side row (NFC or "Away").
Picking the Right Stakes
How much should a square cost? It depends on your crowd. I’ve seen $1 squares where the winner gets a cheap bottle of tequila, and I’ve seen $500 squares where someone walks away with enough to buy a used Honda Civic.
A common breakdown for the payout is:
- 1st Quarter: 20%
- Halftime: 20%
- 3rd Quarter: 20%
- Final Score: 40%
Some people like to do "reverse" squares where the person with the worst numbers gets a small "bad luck" prize, but that usually just complicates the math for the person running the pool, who is probably three drinks in by halftime anyway.
Digital vs. Paper: The Great Debate
We live in 2026. You can do this all online now. Sites like SuperBowlPoolSite or even a shared Google Sheet make it easier to manage people who live in different states.
But there is something lost when you go digital. There is a specific energy to a physical super bowl squares sheet taped to a wall. People crowd around it. They groan when a meaningless touchdown at the end of the third quarter ruins their chance at the halftime pot. They point and laugh at the guy who has the 5/2 combo. If you’re hosting a physical party, stick to paper. It’s a focal point. It’s a conversation starter.
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Common House Rules to Consider
You have to be clear about the rules before the game starts. Does the "Final Score" mean the end of the 4th quarter or the end of Overtime?
In 2017, when the Patriots came back against the Falcons, a lot of pools got messy. The score was 28-28 at the end of regulation. If your pool pays out "End of 4th Quarter," the winners were those with 8/8. But if the pool pays out the "Final Score," the winners were those with 4/8 (since the Pats won 34-28).
Pro tip: Always rule that the "Final Score" includes overtime. It's cleaner. It's the final result of the game. Period.
The "Bad Number" Pity Rule
If you're feeling generous, or if you're the one stuck with the 2 and the 5, you can implement a "touchback" rule. Some pools offer a small payout every time the score changes, or they give a "booby prize" to the person who had the furthest-off numbers.
Honestly, though? Most people just accept the luck of the draw. That’s the gamble.
One variation that is gaining popularity is "Square Changing." After the first quarter, everyone rotates their numbers one spot to the right. It keeps people engaged even if they started with terrible numbers. It’s a bit chaotic, but if your group is bored by the second quarter, it’s a solid way to spice things up.
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Printing Your Sheet Without Breaking Your Printer
When you go to print a super bowl squares sheet, check the margins. Most templates you find online are formatted for A4 but you’re probably using Letter.
Make sure the boxes are big enough for people to actually write their names. There is nothing worse than a sheet where five people named "Christopher" tried to cram their names into a half-inch box. Use a Sharpie. Pens are too thin; you want people to be able to see who won from across the room without squinting.
Don't Forget the Team Names
Write the actual team names on the axes. Don't just put "Team A" and "Team B." It sounds simple, but once the wings start disappearing and the commercials get loud, people will forget which side is the Chiefs and which side is the 49ers (or whoever is playing this year).
Actionable Steps for a Flawless Pool
- Download or draw your grid early. Do not wait until Sunday morning. People want to buy in on Wednesday or Thursday when the hype is building.
- Collect the money upfront. Seriously. This is the golden rule of any pool. If you don't collect the cash when they pick their square, you will be chasing "Big Mike" for twenty bucks until April. "I'll Venmo you" is a lie 50% of the time.
- Take a photo of the completed sheet. Once the numbers are drawn and the names are in, snap a photo and text it to everyone in the group. This prevents any "Hey, I thought I had the 7!" arguments later in the night when memories are a bit fuzzy.
- Keep the payout cash in envelopes. Label them "1st Quarter," "Halftime," etc. It makes the transition of winnings smooth and prevents you from accidentally spending the prize money on more pizza.
- Assign a "Banker." If you are the host, you are already busy with the grill and the drinks. Task one responsible (or semi-responsible) friend with tracking the score and identifying the winners at the end of each quarter.
Running a pool doesn't have to be a headache. It's just a grid. But it’s a grid that turns a blowout game into a nail-biter. Even if the game is 35-0, the person with the 5/0 square is going to be screaming at the TV for a missed extra point. That’s the magic of the squares. It makes every play, every fumble, and every safety feel like a life-changing event for someone in the room.
Get your markers ready, draw the lines straight, and for the love of football, make sure you don't end up with the 2 and the 2.
Next Steps for Success:
- Check out the official NFL schedule to ensure you have the correct team names for your axes.
- Decide on your entry fee based on your group's comfort level.
- Print your grid at least 48 hours before kickoff to allow for maximum "buy-in" time from friends and coworkers.