By Nick Jaroszewicz, Anthony Zonfrelli, and Harry Chiel
It’s no secret that Super Bowl Sunday is a day full of betting. Super Bowl prop bets are notorious indulgences during America’s most watched game, and one of the most popular games during Super Bowl parties is Squares. For those unfamiliar, Squares is a betting competition in which people try to predict the last digit of the scores for both teams at the end of each quarter. Each player puts in a certain amount of money (e.g. $10 per square) to make up a pool, and the game begins. Below is an example of an empty Squares grid from last year’s Super Bowl:
The game starts with a 10 x 10 grid, with the ten rows and ten columns labeled with the numbers 0 through 9. One team is designated as the “rows” and one team as the “columns.” The bettors take turns putting their initials in each square until all the squares are filled. After each quarter, the last digit of each team’s score is taken and the player with the corresponding square in the grid wins for the quarter. For instance, if the score was 17-14 in favor of the “rows” team after the first quarter, the player that picked the square “Row 7, Column 4” would get a certain amount of the money. Traditionally, the predictor of the first quarter gets 20% of the money, the predictor of the halftime score gets 30%, the predictor of the third quarter gets 20%, and the person that predicts the final score gets the last 30%.
So, using these weights, what is the optimal strategy, and which numbers should you stay away from?
For our game, the favored team has been placed on the columns and the underdog on the rows. Using NFL playoff data from 1980 to 2012, we compiled the frequencies of the scores at the end of each quarter. We weighted each frequency according to the quarter-by-quarter payouts (20%, 30%, 20%, 30%), divided by the number of games, and scaled the result for a $1000 pool. The numbers in each box correspond to the expected payout for each square, given a $1000 pool where the buy-in for each square is $10. The results are below:
As the graphic shows, predicting favorite-digit-7 and underdog-digit-0 has been the optimal strategy, with an average payout of $82.74. Assuming each square costs the same amount ($10 in our case), there are only 24 squares that have yielded a profit on average. In fact, there are five squares whose scores have never materialized in any quarter of any game in our sample.
So as you prepare for Super Bowl Sunday, make sure that you bring our chart with you to your party, along with your chips and salsa. After all, losing’s for squares.
The Harvard Sports Analysis Collective 
In no way does this account for the random distribution of ending digits (via playing cards/numbers out of a hat/etc.) Additionally, the squares are generally paid for before the numbers are assigned, thus eliminating the (not terribly difficult to master) strategy of picking the most obvious/likely numbers. If this were not the case, there would be little to no reason for anyone to buy squares after the most likely ones have been taken.
This is a good point. I don’t think I’ve ever played where I actually got to choose the square after I saw the numbers.
But interesting nonetheless! I do enjoy quantifying things to confirm my suspicions.
So true Will! this gives little help to filling or signing you initials to a blank square, then waiting for the numbers to be assigned. This article is common sense, and cross-referenced actual games completed,
to look more intelligent..
This is not how superbowl squares are done. You pick your boxes first and then the corresponding numbers along the rows and columns are picked afterwards at random after everyone has chosen their boxes. If you played the way you’re suggesting, some boxes would have to be bought at a premium over others. Obviously some combination of numbers provide you with a greater statistical chance of winning over others. Though, this is not the way squares are played so this does not provide you with any strategy at all.
If there are in fact alternate ways of playing, I’m assuming some boxes are obviously more expensive than others?
You’re right, if the squares (or digits) are randomly assigned to you then there really is no strategy for playing since everyone has the same odds once they buy into the game. However, there are some pools in which you buy into the game, and then there is a draft where you can choose your square in turn. In this latter type of game, you can use this chart to maximize your expected payout. We didn’t set out look for your odds of winning based on the randomization of digits, but instead we tried to figure out which squares historically had the most success. Also, it’s worth noting that only 24 of the 100 squares provide you with expected profit (from a $10 buy in), so that might affect your decision to play the game at all. If nothing else, this chart will at least let you know what you can expect to win once your square has been assigned to you in a randomized game.
Well said. Rules may differ, but the information is valuable for many reasons.
In a ‘big $’ pool, say $100 per square, we have seen pools that Automatically pay out $100 to all squares with the same number. As seen by the payout research some squares are ‘dead’ such as 2/2, 5/5, 9/9. Even though this may be a bonus to 0/0, 4/4, 7/7, it’s an equitable way to ensure everyone enjoys the game.
All right, Squares truthers, but the basic point remains the same: these are the payouts for each combination of numbers, which is certainly valuable information.
lol
Im curious whether you can see what the boxes look like if you change the %’s, my pool uses a 10/30/10/50 system and there is a draft
Zachary,
Similar to the 20/30/20/30, favorite 7 underdog 0 has the most expected value, followed by 0-0 and 7-7. If you leave your twitter handle I will PM you the chart.
I’d be curious about the raw data as well, prior to adjusting for payout. Or an adjusted chart for a pool where the payout is 20-20-20-40. I don’t have a twitter handle, but you can email me at robdarby3[at]gmail. Thanks for the info!
@zacharyneugut
There IS a strategy for Squares in which the numbers are filled in after you’re finished. And that strategy is to diversify. Don’t put more than one box in a single column or row.
See, Bill’s comment is what I was hoping this would be about. Say I am willing to buy 5 or 10 squares. How should I group them to improve my odds of at least breaking even? A diagonal? A box? A line? Two lines?
To my knowledge, if you are buying multiple squares, putting them all in different rows and columns will not change your expected winnings, but will reduce your standard deviation of winning. But I could be wrong, it could quite possibly be the opposite.
I would think a diagonal line would increase your odds of winning (because it gives you the highest diversification), and putting them in a straight line (horizontally or vertically) would lower your odds of winning (because you will have the same numbers on one side), but increase the possible AMOUNT of money you’d take in should you win.
I prefer the former. Low-risk, low-reward.
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This guy is an idiot and has no idea how the squares pool works.
You are sooooooooooo right!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank You Joey for speaking the truth!!!! 🙂
I would agree with Mooneyar that this information is useful in knowing the probability of your number combination winning, after the numbers are drawn, even if random.
if they had a person to look into the actually 100 squares, and if certain ones have hit more then say, one of the 4 corners. Now that would be useful information!!
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Here’s a description of strategy: http://footballsquares.blogspot.com/2014/01/short-final-summary.html … and the full blog goes into much more (maybe way too much more) detail.
Check our Squarezy.com and run your super bowl squares pool online!
Nice, but NFL has had two point conversions since 1994. It’s difficult to believe that would not affect these distributions.
Hello,
Its quite useful information you have shared with us, that’s really great.
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I have read a few just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for
revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you set to create the sort of fantastic informative website.
Other gadgets such as tablets, for example, as long as they are
used for betting, are considered as mobile betting.
Many online bookmakers run regular promotions offering free bets or
other incentives. But, for your assistance we list some of the advantages of void bets.
What happens when you can’t fill all the squares?
What is a reasonable length of time to collect your money on a winning football square?
It sounds like you may be interested in a pet project I put together last year: a Superbowl Box Forecaster. http://pandora.dyndns.biz/boxes
Best strategy is multiple of 9s. Haha but thats only given me a 45 winning percebtage.
hi this is a great site that you have, thank you 4 sharing it with us.
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Man, Harvard is really going down the tubes.
Let’s hope this will change soon!
Thanks for sharing it’s really helpful.
https://thetaqsports.co.uk/
I had a bar owner take an entire row thus giving him one side win of every game. Now his odds are in his favor as he only need a 1-10 chance for the next number. Is my math correct or better question, is this at all ethical?
This is 1st quarter probability charting. The variables are endless
I think we understand 0-0 & 7-7 are great odds for a 1st quarter payout. May be time better spent researching something of more importance 👎🏼
“I award you NO points and may God have mercy on your soul…Everyone in this room is now dumber for listening to you”!