Mega Millions Jackpot – Which Numbers Have Been Drawn The Most?

The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday March 26th is now up to a whopping $1,1 billion dollars! Someone in Florida got very close to winning the Mega Millions jackpot last Friday, but not quite. That ticket, sold at Publix at 4141 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton, Florida had all 5 numbers correct, but not the Mega Ball. It's a million dollar winning ticket, but it's not a billion.

Can someone in Florida win it all? Yes. Last summer, just over 7 months ago, someone from Neptune Beach, Florida won $1.58 billion on Mega Millions. So yes, it can happen here.

There's two ways to play. The auto pick, or doing your own. If you're not one to leave things to chance, you're the type of person who picks their own numbers. But which numbers? Do you go with birthdays and anniversaries? Maybe that will hit. I'm different. I go with analytics. So, looking at the data, we can see which Mega Millions numbers come up more than others. We can also see which numbered Mega Ball comes up more often. Someone in Boca was just a Mega Ball away from bringing home almost a billion dollars last weekend. Let's get to the data.

Here are the 10 most often white numbered balls to be drawn since October 31, 2017.

And some of those recently, too. 3, 31, and 8 all showed up in the March 22nd drawing.  To see the disparity between most and least, the numbers 49 and 51 have each only appeared 34 times. That's quite a gap. Now let's take a look at that Mega Ball.

Here are the 10 most often Mega Balls to be drawn since October 31, 2017.

The difference between most and least is even more pronounced with the Mega Ball. The number 8 has only been drawn 18 times. Less than half of the times 11 and 22 showed up. Let's recap.

As the Florida Lottery always says, please play responsibly. Also, I can't guarantee you'll win the Mega Millions jackpot, if I knew which numbers were going to come up I'd already be living on that $295 million dollar Port Royal island in Naples, Florida. Right? But good luck to all.

* The data is of October 31st, 2017 because that's the day they changed Mega Millions to it's current setup.

Local Cuisine refers to the cooking and serving of dishes typical of the culture of the area. Many of the dishes contain food that has been produced within that area. So for Southwest Florida that of course means seafood. But that's not all. There's a lot of other fresh foods produced right here in the Sunshine State. Like oranges, tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, strawberries and more. Those locally grown crops are found on the plates in Florida restaurants that want the freshest foods possible. There's also cattle ranches. Places like Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island serve steaks from a ranch just north of North Port. Local. Southwest Florida restaurants that serve food from Florida. That's what we mean by 'local cuisine' restaurants.

As a local, I know about these places. I can personally vouch for several of the rankings on the list. But rather than talk about my favorites, we'll defer to the reviews on Tripadvisor. By using keywords and the site's algorithms, I was able to pinpoint what they would consider the top 10 local cuisine restaurants in Southwest Florida. As a way to show my work, here's a direct link to what I've done. Sure, there may be some places that you think should be on the list, but I don't think you could say any of these places shouldn't be mentioned.

It's actually embarrassing how many people go to the chain restaurants when they come to Southwest Florida to visit. You can go to those places anytime. Also, this list stretches from Sarasota to the south end of Naples. So, some of these places won't be very close, depending on where you are. Now let's take a look at the best local cuisine restaurants in Southwest Florida. I'll drop a couple a couple of links at the end for even more options.

I can't believe we almost lost this place. The Dixie Fish Company on Fort Myers Beach was almost wrecked by Hurricane Ian. There was a boat on their front steps. Seriously.

Thankfully, they were able to put everything back together, and according to Tripadvisor it's the number one spot for fresh local seafood in Southwest Florida. It's an open air bar/restaurant and has everything you could possibly want from a waterfront restaurant on an island. It's an absolute must for anyone visiting the Fort Myers area. Us locals love it, too. This is true original Southwest Florida.

It should come as no surprise that number 2 on the list is owned by the same people that own the Dixie Fish Company. Doc Ford's on Fort Myers Beach is right next to the Dixie Fish Company. Doc Ford's also has a Sanibel location. You cannot fail ordering a grouper taco with beans and rice. That's my go-to. The shrimp and grits are pretty amazing, too. You're also gonna love the decor. And the view.

At number 3 on the list is an entry from Englewood. Englewood is full of Snowbirds this time of year, and this is one of their favorites. A reviewer stated "Had the mango pecan wahoo on Jamaican rice and it was as good as it sounds." Oh my.

Baleen is just incredible. But keep in mind it's location in Naples does make it a little pricier than some of the others. But you will not find a better view of the Gulf while you dine. Get some mango bread pudding, trust. People come here to propose, it's just beautiful. One note, go when the weather is good for the full experience. Maybe one day these clouds will clear out...

This one's in Sarasota, and elegant European indoor and outdoor garden setting. Their specialty is events. I don't know much about this place, but I wanted to stay true to the list. It's been referred to a a 'hidden treasure' in Sarasota. It's also very Instagrammable. 

Harold's in Fort Myers comes in at number 6 and is the first on the list that doesn't benefit from a waterfront location. It's on 41 near 6 Mile Cypress. So it must be the food. Some reviewers mention Harold's as the best restaurant in Fort Myers. Getting to watch the chefs cook your food through the big window is a treat. Not sure what to get? Do the scallops. Or this:

Back to Sarasota for this one, it's a local favorite on Siesta Key. Lots of fresh seafood on the menu, or they'll cook up what you catch. If you have someone with you who's not a seafood lover, they also have a few pizza options. 

And to Fort Myers Beach for Fresh Catch Bistro. Upscale dining with a fabulous Estero Bay view. The mahi is a favorite. Really, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I still remember before the hurricane bringing my parents there. The first time I ever saw Soapy Tuna was at Junkanoo. This place has history. This video really tells the story.

Fresh fish and paired wine at this place in Sarasota. The name really says who they are, and that's what they do.

Next up is Shore by Lido Key in Sarasota. Not just a seafood restaurant, Shore is a mix of on shore and off-shore menu items. Incredibly touristy area, but they manage to stand out with a local feel.

For as much damage as we took from that last hurricane, Fort Myers Beach restaurants have really managed to rebuild and maintain a local feel. Next up is Flippers On The Bay. Their view of the bay is absolutely amazing. Seafood is on the menu.

Related: The Best Tacos In Southwest Florida Are At A Gas Station In Estero

Related: 3 Southwest Florida Favorites Make Yelp’s Top 100 Florida Restaurants List

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