Jan 25, 2020 The setup for Super Bowl squares is simple. A pool consists of 10 vertical columns and 10 horizontal rows thatched together and numbered from zero to nine. One Super Bowl team—in this year's case. Feb 06, 2021 How do Super Bowl squares work? Most Super Bowl squares are played on a 10x10 grid with a 'home' team row on top and the 'visitor' column on the side: An empty board starts with 100 'squares.'

• Feb 07, 2021 What are Super Bowl squares and what is the format? Each player gets a board that features 10 rows and 10 columns, adding up to 100 squares. One of the teams will be assigned the rows, while the other team will be assigned the columns.
• How do Super Bowl squares work? Most Super Bowl squares are played on a 10x10 grid with a 'home' team row on top and the 'visitor' column on the side: An empty board starts with 100 'squares.'

Super Bowl LIV is finally here, and the long-anticipated matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers could end up going either way with Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo leading the way for their respective clubs. In turn, bets could play out in interesting ways to kick off the decade.

The Super Bowl has a variety of things that may attract casual fans. Super Bowl squares is becoming one of the more prominent aspects.

Here’s how it works and how to win.

What are Super Bowl squares and what is the format?

Each player gets a board that features 10 rows and 10 columns, adding up to 100 squares. One of the teams will be assigned the rows, while the other team will be assigned the columns. After that, the numbers between zero and nine are randomly chosen for each row and column, which allows for every possible score combination.

Who gets which squares depends on the pool you enter. Some pools randomly assign squares, while others auction off certain spots or allow players to buy as many squares as they want per quarter.

How do Super Bowl squares and numbers work? How do I win?

Each square has a corresponding row and column number. At the end of each quarter, players will look to see if those two numbers match the end digits of each team’s point total. For example, if the score at the end of the second is Chiefs 14, 49ers 3, then the player with the square that corresponds with four for Kansas City and three for San Francisco.

Which pool players are playing in determines the pay out. Some pools pay out at the end of every quarter, or the halftime or final scores could also determine who wins.

Where can I find a template for Super Bowl squares?

NBC Sports has provided a template, complete with a 10 by 10 grid and the Chiefs assigned the rows and 49ers the columns. Fans can either print templates or email them out to fellow players.

When is the Super Bowl and how can I watch it?

Super Bowl LIV is scheduled to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 2, but pregame coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

• Date: Sunday, February 2, 2020
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
• TV Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Myers and Mike Pereira

And what will you eat while watching?

Hopefully, you’ve planned out your menu. But if not, we have a massive list of great ideas for Super Bowl snacks, party food, and more. And if you want a sneak peek at the Super Bowl commercials, click here.

More on Super Bowl LIV

Super Bowl squares, also known as football squares, have become a staple of Super Bowl parties everywhere – an easy and fun way for guests to bet on the outcome of the game.

How Do Squares Work For Super Bowl Rings

So as this year's Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs approaches – featuring two of the NFL's top quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes – it's time to get up to speed on how it all works and how you can put yourself in the best position to win.

Here's USA TODAY Sports' primer on Super Bowl squares, how they work and which squares are most likely to pay off on Sunday.

How do Super Bowl squares work?

The game starts with a 10-by-10 grid, or 100 individual boxes — each of which is assigned a universal price tag, like $1 per square. Before the Super Bowl kicks off, participants purchase individual boxes — generally as many as they wish — until all 100 of them are accounted for. The numbers 0-9 are then assigned to the columns and rows (usually at random), giving two numbers to each individual cell.

From here, the game can be played a few different ways. Typically, one axis represents the last digit of the NFC team's score and the other represents the last digit of the AFC team's score. Whoever has the correct digits of the final score wins the pot; If the Bucs win 28-21, for example, the winning square would be where the No. 8 on the NFC axis meets the No. 1 on the AFC axis.

What other Super Bowl square options are there?

How Do Squares Work For Super Bowl Tickets

One of the most popular variations on Super Bowl squares is to pay out 25% of the pot at the end of every quarter, rather than all of it at the end of the game. (Or, in some cases, 20% at the end of the first and third quarters, and 30% at the end of each half). This makes it more likely that there will be multiple winners, albeit with smaller shares of the pot.

What are the best squares to have?

The values on each axis are usually assigned at random, so you might not have a choice here. But if you do, your best bet will generally be some combination of zeroes and/or sevens. In a 2013 blog post, the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective wrote that the single best square to have is seven on the favorite's axis (the Chiefs are the favorites this year) and zero on the underdog's, with the 0-0 square a close second. The Washington Post lists 0-0 as the best square to have, with the two combinations of seven and zero (7-0 or 0-7) right behind it. Three, four and one also aren't bad numbers to have from an odds standpoint.

What are the worst squares to have?

Any combination of twos or fives. According to the aforementioned Harvard Sports Analysis Collective post from 2013, the 2-2 square and 2-5 square (two on the favorite's axis, five on the underdog's) are among the worst, because it usually takes some combination of safeties, missed extra points or other general strangeness to get there.

How Do Squares Work For Super Bowl Projections

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to play Super Bowl squares 2021: Here are the rules you need to know