Since the Mega Millions Bonus Ball is from 1-15, the odds might be easier or better to figure out just the bonus on that, then check off quick pick for the 5 numbers 1-75.
Even if you just try picking only 2 of the 15 numbers for a two play ticket, and getting the *megaplier* option, and you don't win, well it is a $4 loss. If you do pick the right one, you'd win at least half the cost back with the minimum 2x multiplier. If you can pick up one of the 5 other numbers with the bonus, you will at least hit even with just a 2x multiplier. I think California does not have the megaplier option, maybe more states don't have that.
Gail Howard mentions if you are looking to pick the bonus ball, look at the top hitters. I look at how long the top hits have been out, what type of hit pattern it has, as well as other numbers-coincides with how many skips their are betwen hits. How about the longshots? How often do longshots hit, how many "remaining" longshots are there since the new format? 9 is out 123 draws, the coldest longshot. It has hit 22x. 7 has hit 24x-the most out of the 15 numbers, and is out 8 draws since it's last hit.
The last 4 draws hit odd numbers, with 9/14 being odd (5 being even number hits). The last 7 draws were low number hits, with 11/14 being from low numbers 1-8. So their is a slight bias for odd, a heavy bias for low numbers. I would think something in the high numbers are due to hit. Some things to think about, you can go with or against the biases-or play both.
I do use GH's software, I know a lot of people here use LP's charts and tools. I have a chart that shows the Bonus Ball info since the new format started, but also have the chart with all the dates included since the beginning, to give an idea of longer term trends, patterns. I use Excel to map this out. Once there is more history for this new format, more patterns and tracking can be done for this. I know that its all how the numbers fall-chance, a little luck-I get that, but a little help with studying numbers doesn't hurt.
I guess this seems like too much trouble for just the bonus number and the odds on Megaball. I don't play every draw, but am interested in the results that do hit. Good luck and God Bless.