Mega Millions players in North Carolina could start their weekend off with a bang with a $394 million jackpot up for grabs.

A winner tonight would have the choice of taking home the $394 million jackpot as an annuity or $188.5 million in cash.

“We all are rooting for jackpot winner here tonight,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “As players try their luck at winning these big jackpots, they also are helping raise money for education programs in North Carolina.”

The current Mega Millions jackpot run has already raised an estimated $5.5 million for education programs in North Carolina.

Even though the jackpot remains up for grabs, players are taking home lots of other prizes as Tuesday’s drawing produced more than 19,000 winning tickets in North Carolina.

The Powerball jackpot also keeps growing as Saturday’s drawing offers a $248 million jackpot as an annuity or $122.5 million in cash.

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

Players can buy Mega Millions and Powerball tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com, or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

For details on how money raised by the lottery makes a difference for education programs in all 100 North Carolina counties, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.