Optimizing Super Bowl Squares with Linear Programming

A sudoku-inspired approach to minimizing competitive advantage

Super Bowl Sunday has historically captivated the American audience by catering to diverse interests. Football fanatics are enthralled by the on-field action, while casual viewers are entertained by the spectacle — from captivating commercials to dazzling halftime shows. However, today’s Super Bowl transcends the traditional two-audience dynamic. This year, for example, Taylor Swift’s dedicated fanbase (“Swifties”) might tune in to witness her potential interactions with Travis Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs seek to defend their championship title. Moreover, the burgeoning legal sports betting landscape, coupled with the Las Vegas location of the game, adds an extra element of adrenaline for both seasoned and recreational bettors.

This article goes out to those who know the general rules of football but are more of a “good hang” than a diehard fan. If you like to enjoy the various chips & dips at your gathering with family and/or friends and wouldn’t mind adding some excitement to the biggest football game of the year in a “bingo”-esque fashion, then allow me to introduce you to Super Bowl squares.

Author’s Note: feel free to skip the next section if you already know how Super Bowl Squares works.

Super Bowl Squares — Basic Introduction The Setup

Grid: Imagine a 10x10 grid, creating 100 squares.
Teams: Each row is assigned one team and each column is assigned the other team playing in the Super Bowl.
Numbers: Numbers 0–9 are randomly assigned to each row and column (think bingo!). This creates unique combinations for each square.

Playing the Game

Buying Squares: Participants “buy” squares. Each square represents the last digit of each team’s score at the end of a specific period (quarter, half, or final game). Note: some groups allow participants to buy specific squares, but my family typically buys set amounts of squares, and then we randomize the numbers along the rows and columns shortly before kick-off.
Payouts: The payout structure…