How Do Football Squares Work? Rules, Payouts & Strategy

The setup: a 10×10 grid

One sheet, 100 squares. One team gets the rows, the other gets the columns. Players buy squares — office pools typically run $1 to $20 per square, with $5 the classic Super Bowl number. Once the grid is full, the organizer randomly assigns the digits 0 through 9 across the top and down the side. You don’t pick your numbers, and that’s the point: squares is a lottery wearing a football costume.

At the end of each quarter, take the last digit of each team’s score. If it’s 17–10 after Q1, the winning square sits where row “7” meets column “0” (which axis is home vs away depends on the pool’s sheet). Four chances to win per game: end of Q1, halftime, end of Q3, final score.

A quick example of a full game: scores of 7–3, 14–10, 17–17 and 27–20 would pay the holders of 7/3, 4/0, 7/7 and 7/0. Notice how the same digits keep showing up — that’s not coincidence, it’s how football scoring works, and it’s the only real “insight” the game offers.

Standard payout structure

Some pools pay 25/25/25/25, others weight the final at 50%. Read the sheet before you buy in, and confirm two things upfront: what happens on overtime (almost always: final score includes OT, quarters already paid stand) and what happens if the grid doesn’t fill (usually the pot scales down proportionally — a 70-square pool pays 70% of the listed amounts).

The honest math on expected value: every square costs the same and the numbers are assigned randomly, so every player’s EV is identical — exactly what they paid in, minus zero edge. A legit pool is a pure pass-through; the organizer keeps nothing. If someone’s skimming a cut, you’re not playing squares, you’re paying a vig to your coworker.

Which numbers actually win

You can’t choose your digits, but knowing the hierarchy tells you how to feel about your draw. Historical NFL scoring data is remarkably consistent because football scores cluster on 3s and 7s — field goals and touchdowns:

The dream squares are 0-0, 7-0, 0-7, 7-3, 3-7 — the classic 10–7, 17–14 type scorelines that dominate the NFL. The nightmare draw is anything combining 2, 5, 8, or 9; a 2-2 square has won a quarter maybe a handful of times in modern league history. One modern wrinkle: the league’s 2015 extra-point rule change and the rise of 2-point attempts nudged 8s and 5s up slightly — still bad draws, just less hopeless than they were in the 2000s. But remember: you drew randomly, and so did everyone else. Complaining about your numbers is a squares tradition, not a strategy leak.

“Strategy” — the honest version

Want an actual edge on the game instead of a raffle? Our NFL predictions desk grades matchups with real numbers, and the parlay guide explains the ticket math if you’re building one for Sunday.

FAQ — football squares questions

How do you win at football squares?

You win when the last digit of each team’s score matches your square at the end of a quarter. 24–17 at halftime pays the 4/7 square. There’s no skill lever — the draw is random — so “winning at squares” means buying into well-run pools and enjoying the sweat.

What are the best numbers to have?

0 and 7 are the premium digits, followed by 3 and 4. The 0-0, 7-0, 0-7, 7-3 and 3-7 squares hit the large majority of payouts historically. Anything with a 2, 5, 8 or 9 is a long shot — draw two of them and you’re basically rooting for safeties.

Does overtime count in football squares?

In almost every pool, the final-score payout uses the score at the end of overtime, while the quarter payouts already made stand as paid. Confirm with your organizer before kickoff — it’s the one rules argument that happens every single year.

Are football squares pools legal?

Social pools among friends with no organizer cut are generally tolerated in most states, though a few states technically restrict even casual pools. Money squares offered online for profit are gambling — legal only through licensed operators in regulated states. When in doubt, keep it small and keep it among friends.

How much should a square cost?

Whatever keeps the pool fun: $1–$5 per square is the office standard, Super Bowl party pools often run $10–$20. The pot should equal exactly the buy-ins — 100 squares times the price — with the organizer taking nothing. That structure is what separates a pool from a book.