How to Make a Super Bowl Box Pool

Super Bowl box pools have a long history in American homes, offices and among groups of friends. The pools are particularly popular because winning is a matter of luck rather than deep knowledge of football, so those who are not interested in football in general often join them for the chance to make some money. Learn how to make your own football box pool to generate some excitement for the big game and give a few people a chance to make some money.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pen
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Draw the box. Make a grid composed of 11 vertical lines and 11 horizontal lines. The boxes within the grid should be at three-quarters of an inch square so people can write their names in them. Put the grid toward the bottom of a sheet of paper and write "Super Bowl Box Pool" at the top.

    • 2

      Establish the payouts for your grid. Some pay 25 percent to the people who have the right numbers at the end of each quarter, while others pay more for the halftime score and final score. Write the payout percentages at the top of the sheet of paper.

    • 3

      Set your price and write it at the top of the sheet of paper, then sell the boxes within the grid. Your final payout pool will total your price per box times 100. So if you set the price per box at $5, you will have $500 to pay out on Super Bowl Sunday. Have each person who buys a box choose the box he wants and write his name in it.

    • 4

      Draw numbers after you have sold all of the boxes. Write the numbers zero through 9 on sheets of paper, fold them up and put them in a hat or dish. Draw a number from the hat and write the number above the far left column in the grid. Set the number aside and draw a new number, then write that number above the second column from the left and set that number aside. Continue the process until you have drawn all of the numbers and written them above each column. Each column should have a different number. Some numbers are better than others, so do this with witnesses who have bought boxes to avoid suspicions of foul play. Repeat the process to label each row and write the numbers along the left side of the grid, next to each row.

    • 5

      Select a team that is represented by the columns and a team that is represented by the rows. Write the respective team names across the top of the grid and along the left side of the grid. For example, you would write "Broncos" above the grid and "Bears" alongside it and to the left. Your grid is done. Enjoy the game and pay the winners at the end of each quarter.