The multi-state Mega Millions jackpot hit a jaw dropping $370 million in advance of Tuesday night’s drawing, sending hundreds of thousands of hopefuls to the lottery lines.

“Your gonna see this face on TV tomorrow because I’m gonna win,” said Bianca Jones of Baltimore, who bought five tickets Tuesday afternoon at Necessities in Baltimore’s downtown Gallery shopping mall.

To win, Jones would have to correctly pick the five lottery numbers and match the mega ball. Her chance is 1 in 175.7 million. Smaller prizes are awarded to players who pick certain numbers correctly.

As hopefuls lined up in the 11 states participating in the Mega Millions drawing, lottery officials predicted last-minute ticket sales would push the prize total into record territory. Because of the lottery hoopla, officials moved the drawing to New York City’s famed Time Square from its usual home in Atlanta. The drawing will be held at 11 p.m.

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“I got one for myself and one for the bell-boy of hotel I am staying in,” said Californian Kristi Macpherson. “He handed me two dollars and asked me to buy him one.”

Tourist Dawn Heinsohn, who was visiting from Houston, where Mega Millions also is played, said if she wins she would keep working, but her husband would retire.

“I am buying five tickets for what my husband calls the stupid tax, because he says you know you’re not going to win,” Heinsohn said.

gsmith@baltimoreexaminer.com