Are you ready for some football? Start planning the ultimate Super Bowl shindig now so you’ll be ready to sit back and relax when the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens kick off Sunday night. In fact, getting your evites out now guarantees you’ll have a better turnout than those who wait to throw their party together the night before.

Here are the key ingredients for hosting a party to remember, no matter how the game turns out:

• Food: For guests who have no affiliation with either team – or little interest in football whatsoever – the biggest draw of a Super Bowl party is the grub. Standard fare like chips and dip, mini meatballs and pigs in a blanket are always a hit, but get a little creative to truly wow your guests. Once the teams are set, you can create a theme around those cities’ signature dishes (crab dip for Baltimore, sourdough sliders for San Francisco). It’s also perfectly acceptable to ask your guests to bring a dish of their choice – just tell them to RSVP with what they’re bringing so people don’t double up.
• Drinks: The Super Bowl is the perfect excuse for a Sunday Fun Day, so plan accordingly. The rule of thumb when throwing a party is to have enough booze for an average of three drinks per person. Get a variety of beer (light and heartier styles), wine (a standard bottle is about five glasses), and hard alcohol with mixers (opt for at least one clear and one dark liquor with tonic, soda and juice). You can also tailor the drink choices around the team theme – a California contender means lots of wine, and having beers that are brewed in both teams’ home states (California and Maryland) is a nice touch.
• Seating: If you only have a couch that seats four and a recliner or two, you may want to rethink hosting this party. The game is long, and people who have to sit on the floor or a lawn chair will be too polite to complain, but will likely be uncomfortable. If you have the space for more seating, consider borrowing some from the neighbors (if they’re invited) or other friends who live nearby.
• Massive TV: Although the food, drinks and socializing are all important, the main reason for the party is the game (OK, and the commercials). A 27-inch TV with no surround sound will work fine, but a 50-inch with a speaker setup will allow the diehard sports fans to analyze every play as if they’re in the booth. Not to mention, bigger is always better with Beyonce headlining the halftime show.
• Friendly competition: Especially for those with no connection to either team, a little wager can add some excitement to the game. Make all of the guests pick a favorite before they get there and wear that team’s colors. Or, focus on some of Las Vegas’ prop bets, like whether the first touchdown will be scored by a player with an odd or even number on his jersey. You can also make a game out of the commercials, like which animal will appear in the most – dogs? Clydesdales? – and who GoDaddy’s spokesmodel will be this year.

What are your favorite ways to watch the Super Bowl? Leave your best tip for entertaining guests below!