Playing Mega Millions? These Winning Numbers are the Most Common

Lottery players from across Louisiana and the nation are taking a moment today to contemplate what their new life is going to look like. A life filled with financial freedom. They'll have the ability to travel whenever and wherever they want to go. They'll be able to afford the finest foods and hotels. They will be Mega Millions Jackpot winners.

With a top prize of $1.35 billion, that's if you take the annuity. If you take the lump sum cash payment you'll get $707.9 million. Okay, that's what you'll be awarded. The amount you get after taxes will vary, a lot, depending on how you set up your financial plans should you win.

All this speculation about paying taxes and sleeping in five-star hotels is a little premature, you have to actually win the jackpot first, right? Well, let's see if we can't offer you any suggestions that could make that more likely for you.

Uh, no, we can't. We can offer you some interesting coincidences and facts about the game and the numbers that are drawn but it all comes down to chance. I guess you could say luck or even faith depending on what you believe as well.

Let's take a look at what we do know about the Mega Millions game that will be played tonight, January 13th. Yes, it is Friday the 13th. Normally, that's considered to be unlucky. In the Mega Millions game, it is not. There have been six jackpot winners drawn on Friday the 13th. Tonight could be the seventh.

However, the bigger headline, other than the big money part, would be a jackpot win on a Louisiana-sold Mega Millions ticket would be a first of its kind. Louisiana has never had a Mega Millions jackpot win.

In order for that to happen you're going to have to select five numbers out of a range from 1 to 70. I can tell you this. The most common numbers drawn since the most recent Mega Millions jackpot win in October have been 15,46,13, and 59.

The most common Mega Balls or gold ball numbers drawn since the last jackpot win are 18,22,06,07, and 13. This information comes to us courtesy of thehill.com. You can read some of their other interesting Mega Millions stats right here. 

Now, if you're wondering what the most common number drawn for Mega Millions all time that would be the number 22. Then comes 11, and 9. Those three numbers have been involved in winning numbers more than two dozen times each. Other white ball numbers that come up a lot are 10, 18, and 24.

Now if you compare the most common numbers from recent wins and the most common numbers of all time you'll realize, that only the numbers 18 and 22 actually showed up on both lists. I know it's confusing.

But, if you really want to play the odds and have the best chance to win tonight's drawing, at least according to statistics, you should let the computer pick your numbers for you. Quick picks account for more than 70% of all lottery wins in draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions.

No, it's not because the computer has some sort of conspiracy program it's because most people choose quick picks. They're easier than having to fill out a form every time you want to play the game. See, we're even too lazy to work for billions of dollars. What a country.

Tonight's drawing will be held at 10 pm Louisiana time. Make sure you have your ticket secured by at least one hour before that time. By rule, they can't sell tickets in that one-hour window ahead of the drawing. If you play, good luck and if you win, I hope all that money won't ruin your life. This happens to lottery winners a lot more often than you might imagine.