You’ve seen it. That poster board with the messy grid, scotch-taped to a dive bar wall or circulating in a frantic group text every February. Some call it "Super Bowl Squares," others call it "Football Squares," but at its core, 100 square board football is the great equalizer of sports gambling. You don’t need to know the difference between a nickel defense and a dime package. You don't need to track injury reports or weather patterns in Kansas City. You just need a name, a couple of bucks, and the luck of the draw. It is arguably the most democratic way to have skin in the game.
Honestly, it’s a bit chaotic.
Most betting requires a spreadsheet. This requires a Sharpie. While the sportsbooks are pushing complex parlays and "same-game" multipliers that nobody actually understands, the 100 square board football format remains unchanged because it’s basically perfect. It turns a blowout into a nail-biter. Even if your team is losing by thirty points, if that kicker misses an extra point and lands the score on your numbers, you're the one screaming at the TV while the "real" fans are crying into their wings.
How the Grid Actually Works
The math is simple, which is why it works so well. You have a 10x10 grid. That’s 100 squares. People buy into the squares—sometimes for a dollar, sometimes for a hundred—and once the board is full, you draw numbers 0 through 9 across the top and down the side. One axis represents the AFC team; the other represents the NFC team. Your square gives you a specific digit combination. If the final digit of each team's score matches your square at the end of a quarter, you win.
It sounds easy. It is easy. But there is a reason some people get really grumpy when they draw a 2 or an 8.
Historical data from decades of NFL games shows that not all squares are created equal. If you end up with a 7 on one side and a 0 on the other, you’re sitting on gold. Why? Because football scores happen in chunks of seven and three. Touchdowns and field goals. If you draw a square with a 5 or a 9, you’re basically donating to the pot unless someone starts missing PATs or a weird safety happens. In the 2020s, with the way the extra point has been moved back, we’ve seen more "trash" numbers hitting, but the 7s and 0s are still king.
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The Strategy Behind the 100 Square Board Football Layout
You might think there’s no strategy since the numbers are drawn randomly. You’d be mostly right, but "mostly" is where the fun is.
In a standard "blind" 100 square board football pool, you buy your squares before the numbers are assigned. This is the fairest way. However, some high-stakes versions use a "pick your numbers" format where squares are priced differently. A 7-0 square might cost $50, while a 2-2 square costs $5. It turns the pool into a mini-stock market. According to analytics experts at sites like Wizard of Odds, the 0-0 square is historically the most likely to win the first quarter, simply because the game starts there.
Why 2s, 5s, and 9s Are the Kiss of Death
Let's look at the "bad" numbers. To get a score ending in 2, you usually need a safety or four field goals. Neither happens often. A 5 requires a missed extra point on a touchdown (making it 6) followed by... well, a lot of math that usually doesn't involve winning.
When you’re staring at a board and you see your name next to a 5-9 combination, your only hope is a legendary "scorigami." Scorigami, a term coined by sportswriter Jon Bois, refers to a final score that has never happened before in NFL history. Sometimes, those weird scores are the only way those "bad" squares ever pay out. It’s why people stay glued to the screen during garbage time.
Variations That Keep Things Spicy
The traditional payout is a percentage for the first, second, and third quarters, with the biggest chunk going to the final score. But humans are restless, so we’ve invented ways to make it weirder.
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Some pools use "Winston Rules" or "Reverse Squares," where the person with the worst possible numbers at the end of the game gets their entry fee back. Others use "Mutt Squares," where the numbers rotate every quarter. This is a game-changer. If you have the 5-9 in the first quarter, you aren't dead in the water; you might have the 7-0 by the halftime show.
There’s also the "Quarterback" variation. Instead of just scores, squares can be assigned to specific stats, though that’s usually too much work for a casual party. The 100 square board football setup is at its best when it's kept lean.
The Social Factor
Why does this specific format dominate office pools and family gatherings? It’s the low barrier to entry. My grandmother doesn't know what a "spread" is or what "buying points" means. But she knows that if the Chiefs have 13 and the Eagles have 10, and her square is 3-0, she’s getting paid.
It creates a strange environment where fans of the same team are rooting against each other. You might want your team to score a touchdown, but your buddy in the next chair is screaming for them to take a knee because a touchdown ruins his "4-7" square. It’s a beautiful, localized form of civil war.
Making Your Own Board: The Right Way
If you’re the one running the board, don’t mess it up. Use a straight edge. Use a poster board that isn't crumpled. Most importantly, use a random number generator for the axes. Don't let people pick their numbers if they are all paying the same price—that’s how fights start.
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- Draw the 10x10 grid first.
- Let people write their names in the boxes until all 100 are full.
- Only then, draw the numbers 0-9 out of a hat for the top row.
- Repeat for the side row.
This ensures total transparency. If you draw the numbers before the names go in, people will accuse you of "stacking" the 7s and 0s for yourself. Trust me, even in a $1 pool, people get suspicious.
The Legal Reality
We have to be real here: the legality of 100 square board football varies wildly depending on where you are sitting. In the United States, many states have "social gambling" exceptions. Usually, this means the person running the pool can't take a "cut" or a "rake." If $1,000 goes in, $1,000 must come out in prizes. If you start charging a "host fee," you’re technically running an illegal sportsbook. Most casual office pools are fine, but if you’re moving thousands of dollars, maybe don't post the board on a public Facebook page.
Real-World Examples of Legendary Wins
Think back to Super Bowl LI—the Patriots vs. Falcons. The epic comeback. That game was a nightmare for square holders because it was the first Super Bowl to go into overtime. In overtime, the game ends as soon as a touchdown is scored. If you had the "final score" square based on the end of the fourth quarter, you didn't win. You had to wait for the final OT score.
The final was 34-28. If you had 4-8, you were the hero of the night. If you had the numbers for the 28-28 tie at the end of regulation, you were likely out of luck, depending on your pool's specific rules. This is why you clarify the "Overtime Rule" before the kickoff. Does the 4th quarter winner take the pot, or does it roll to the final score? Clarify it, or prepare for an argument.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Pool
If you want to dominate—or at least not look like a novice—follow these steps for the next big game.
- Request the "Rolling" Rule: If you’re organizing, suggest that the numbers change every quarter. It keeps the energy high and prevents people with bad numbers from leaving the party early.
- Check the Payout Structure: The most common split is 20/20/20/40. That means 20% for each of the first three quarters and 40% for the final score. This keeps the biggest prize for the end.
- Don't "Double Dip": If you buy multiple squares, try to space them out. Don't put all your names in one corner. If the numbers are random, your physical location on the board doesn't technically matter, but it feels better to have a presence in different "zones."
- Use an App for Remote Groups: If your friends are scattered across the country, use a digital grid. Sites like SuperBowlPoolSite or OfficePoolStop handle the number randomization and the grid management so you don't have to deal with the "who bought what" headaches.
The 100 square board football format isn't just a game; it's a piece of sports culture. It bridges the gap between the die-hard gambler and the person who is only there for the commercials and the seven-layer dip. Next time you see that grid, grab a square. Even a 5-2 combination is better than having no skin in the game at all.