The top 10 most "overdue" Powerball numbers

Published: Jan. 7, 2016 at 8:59 PM MST|Updated: Mar. 3, 2016 at 8:59 PM MST
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TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Forget anything you've read online about picking a winning lottery ticket.

There's no system that will guarantee you a jackpot or even help your chances. Still, it doesn't hurt to have a little fun when picking your numbers.

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The top prize for the drawing Wednesday night will be at least $1.5 billion, the largest in U.S. history. The last jackpot win came in October 2015, the same month the lottery company changed the number of white and red balls in the hopper.

Your chance of winning the Powerball jackpot is around 1 in 292 million. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, you are twice as likely to die while playing Scrabble than taking home the jackpot.

Here are four ways to select your lottery numbers.

Each numbered ball has an equal chance of coming up at any given time, regardless of what's happened in the past or what may happen in the future.

But many people like to look at old results to help fill our their ticket.

According to LottoNumbers.com, the 10 most-frequently drawn white balls are Nos. 26, 41,16, 22, 42, 35, 39, 45, 19 and 15. The top five most-frequently drawn red balls are Nos. 29, 6, 29, 2 and 18.

LottoNumbers.com also keeps track of the numbers that don't get called as often. The "most overdue numbers" are 1, 3, 35, 24, 51 and 8.

When you buy the ticket you can just let the machine pick the numbers for you.

You can grab your numbers ahead of time by using an online number generator, like the one HERE.

Some people swear by complicated 10-step systems that you need a degree in advanced mathematics to complete.

One of the most popular and easiest methods is the Delta System, which claims to help people win by analyzing the "mathematical differences between adjacent numbers."

Again, it's complete bunk but can add a little entertainment to the lottery experience.

The Delta System is explained pretty well HERE. A computerized version available HERE.

Since it is all up to chance anyway, use numbers that mean something to you.

Pick your kids' birthdays, your anniversary, the year you graduated or the year your favorite team won its title.

It doesn't really matter in the end but at least the ticket will be personalized.

More Powerball Coverage

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Nogales businesses benefiting from Powerball ticket sales

The psychology behind buying a lottery ticket

Better Business Bureau warns against lottery scams

How the lottery helps state programs

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