Powerball Jackpot: Most Common Numbers Drawn
CHICAGO (CBS) -- When the Powerball jackpot jumps to $500 million, which is exactly what it did for tonight's drawing, do you play?
And if so, do you play the numbers game, or just let the computer pick the numbers for you?
If you like to play the numbers, here are the most-common numbers selected in the past 20 drawings, according to USA Mega.
16, 47 (four times, or 20 percent)
2, 14, 32, 55, 68 (three times or 15 percent).
As for the Powerball number, 10 is the hot pick, selected three times.
And what if you want to take a different approach and pick the numbers that have been missing from the draw, under the theory that those numbers are "due"?
Then pick from 1, 3, 8, 11, 21, 23, 24, 31, 34, 35, 39, 43, 48, 49, 51, 60.
None of those numbers have been picked in the past 20 drawings.
These numbers have not been picked as the Powerball over the same period: 3, 4, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 24, 26.
And remember, none of this changes your odds of winning, which are 1 in 292,201,338.
After taxes in Illinois, expect about $218 million, if you decide to take the mountain of money in a single payment.