A new contest record
707.4060
highest overall ever cooked here
707.4060 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 703.9428 HOT COLE'S BBQ set in 2019.
- old record 703.9428
- set 2019 by HOT COLE'S BBQ
Georgia BBQ Championship Throwdown 2020
Nov 20–21, 2020 · Cumming, GA · State championship
Reps: Julie Cook, Rusty Cook
YES, DEAR BBQ won Grand Champion at the Georgia BBQ Championship Throwdown on November 20, 2020 in Cumming, GA, scoring 707.4060 in a field of 40 teams. POT'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 704.0116. Category winners: Chicken — UNDER THE RADAR (180.0000); Pork Ribs — FYC BARBEQUE (178.8572); Pork — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN (180.0000); Brisket — BALD HAWG BBQ (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL PIT VIPERS with 525.1200. This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2019 edition was won by HOT COLE'S BBQ.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
625.55
median 686.51
707.41 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 178.86
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 177.71
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 175.42
- Backyard Series — Pork 180 🔥
149.63
180
Entries
40
7 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
707.4060
Winning margin
3.3944
GC over RC
Field average
680.31
625.55707.41
median 686.51 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
692.5372
625.55707.41
10th place overall
Field spread
81.8512
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 7%
beats 93% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
42%
22 of 52 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.46 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,577
avg power rating going in · stronger than 61% of contests
Storylines (7 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
An upset on the books
19-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 81 times in 100
YES, DEAR BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 19-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1714
- top seed 1962
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
YES, DEAR BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 4th. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 5th
- Pork Ribs 11th
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 4th
A day of perfect scores
4
perfect 180s
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Geaux 2 bbq · Pork
- BALD HAWG BBQ · Brisket
- UNDER THE RADAR · Chicken
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 21 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 3–4: POT'S BBQ and TRIPLE H BBQ tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS and Poppa Pig tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: Poppa Pig and GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 4–5 · tie
A contest record in pork
180.0000
best pork ever cooked here
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 177.1544 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1544
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: HOT COLE'S BBQ (won 2019).
- HOT COLE'S BBQ · 2019
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2019 | Cedartown, GA | 75 Fairgrounds | 35 | 703.9428 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | ANGRY JACK BBQ |
| Nov 20, 2020 ← this one | Cumming, GA | Cumming, GA 30506 | 40 | 707.4060 | YES, DEAR BBQ | POT'S BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 174.2744 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 176.5716 | 174.2628 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 177.7144 | 171.4056 | 169.1200 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 175.4172 | 169.6800 | 166.8228 |
| Backyard Series — Pork | 180 | 170.8228 | 168.5256 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
40 entries · top 707.4060 · median 686.5086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 2 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 3 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 4 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 5 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 6 | Organizer Portal | |
| 7 | Poppa Pig | |
| 8 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 9 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 10 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 11 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 12 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 13 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 15 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 16 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 17 | Bubba Grills | |
| 18 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 19 | PALMETTO PITMASTERS | |
| 20 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 21 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 22 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 23 | THE TEAM FORMERLY KNOWN AS | |
| 24 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 25 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 26 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 27 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 28 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 29 | HAWG WASH BBQ | |
| 30 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 31 | Apocalypse Sow | |
| 32 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 33 | Q'Boss-a | |
| 34 | PECKERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB | |
| 35 | SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 36 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 37 | PRISON CITY BBQ | |
| 38 | Willingham's | |
| 39 | Second City Smokers | |
| 40 | SMOKING BUTTS BBQ |
Chicken
40 entries · top 180 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 2 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 3 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 4 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 5 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 6 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 8 | Poppa Pig | |
| 9 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 10 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 11 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 12 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 13 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 14 | Apocalypse Sow | |
| 15 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 16 | Q'Boss-a | |
| 17 | Organizer Portal | |
| 18 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 19 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 20 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 21 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 22 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 23 | HAWG WASH BBQ | |
| 24 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 25 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 26 | PALMETTO PITMASTERS | |
| 27 | PRISON CITY BBQ | |
| 28 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 30 | THE TEAM FORMERLY KNOWN AS | |
| 31 | Bubba Grills | |
| 32 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 33 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 34 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 35 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 36 | PECKERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB | |
| 37 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 38 | Second City Smokers | |
| 39 | Willingham's | |
| 40 | SMOKING BUTTS BBQ |
Pork Ribs
40 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 2 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 3 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 4 | Poppa Pig | |
| 5 | Organizer Portal | |
| 6 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 7 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 10 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 11 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 12 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 13 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 14 | THE TEAM FORMERLY KNOWN AS | |
| 15 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 16 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 18 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 19 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 20 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 21 | PALMETTO PITMASTERS | |
| 22 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 23 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 24 | Bubba Grills | |
| 25 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 26 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 27 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKING BUTTS BBQ | |
| 29 | HAWG WASH BBQ | |
| 30 | PECKERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB | |
| 31 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 32 | Apocalypse Sow | |
| 33 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 34 | Second City Smokers | |
| 35 | PRISON CITY BBQ | |
| 36 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 37 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 38 | Willingham's | |
| 39 | SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 40 | Q'Boss-a |
Pork
40 entries · top 180 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 2 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 3 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 4 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 5 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 6 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 7 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 8 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 9 | Bubba Grills | |
| 10 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 11 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 12 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 13 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 14 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 15 | PALMETTO PITMASTERS | |
| 16 | Q'Boss-a | |
| 17 | THE TEAM FORMERLY KNOWN AS | |
| 18 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 19 | Organizer Portal | |
| 20 | Poppa Pig | |
| 21 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 22 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 23 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 24 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 25 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 26 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 27 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 28 | Apocalypse Sow | |
| 29 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 30 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 31 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 32 | HAWG WASH BBQ | |
| 33 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 34 | Willingham's | |
| 35 | PRISON CITY BBQ | |
| 36 | PECKERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB | |
| 37 | Second City Smokers | |
| 38 | SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 39 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 40 | SMOKING BUTTS BBQ |
Brisket
40 entries · top 180 · median 171.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 2 | Bubba Grills | |
| 3 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 4 | YES, DEAR BBQ | |
| 5 | Organizer Portal | |
| 6 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 7 | PALMETTO PITMASTERS | |
| 8 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 9 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 10 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 11 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 13 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 14 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 15 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 16 | HAWG WASH BBQ | |
| 17 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 18 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 19 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 20 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 21 | Poppa Pig | |
| 22 | THE TEAM FORMERLY KNOWN AS | |
| 23 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 24 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 26 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 27 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 28 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 29 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 30 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 31 | PECKERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB | |
| 32 | Willingham's | |
| 33 | Apocalypse Sow | |
| 34 | Q'Boss-a | |
| 35 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 36 | Second City Smokers | |
| 37 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 38 | PRISON CITY BBQ | |
| 39 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 40 | SMOKING BUTTS BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
25 entries · top 525.1200 · median 494.1716 · out of 540, not the usual 360
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL PIT VIPERS | |
| 2 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 3 | Gardenvalley Smokers | |
| 4 | Geaux 2 bbq | |
| 5 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 6 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 7 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 8 | CHATTER BOX BBQ | |
| 9 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 10 | HUCKLEBERRY | |
| 11 | BEACHIN' GOOD BARBECUE | |
| 12 | MAMMA PIG | |
| 13 | ADAMS RIB N CUE | |
| 14 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 15 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 16 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 17 | PIG-EEE-LICIOUS | |
| 18 | RACK N BUTTS | |
| 19 | SWINAL TAP | |
| 20 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 21 | SUNDAY SMOKIES | |
| 22 | BBQ HIGH LIFE | |
| 23 | BUTCHER'S BEST | |
| 24 | Q4U GEORGIA | |
| 25 | Music City Smokers |
Chicken
25 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.5484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gardenvalley Smokers | |
| 2 | ADAMS RIB N CUE | |
| 3 | HUCKLEBERRY | |
| 4 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 5 | BEACHIN' GOOD BARBECUE | |
| 6 | TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL PIT VIPERS | |
| 7 | Geaux 2 bbq | |
| 8 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 9 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 10 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 11 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 12 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 13 | CHATTER BOX BBQ | |
| 14 | BUTCHER'S BEST | |
| 15 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 16 | Music City Smokers | |
| 17 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 18 | Q4U GEORGIA | |
| 19 | SWINAL TAP | |
| 20 | MAMMA PIG | |
| 21 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 22 | PIG-EEE-LICIOUS | |
| 23 | SUNDAY SMOKIES | |
| 24 | BBQ HIGH LIFE | |
| 25 | RACK N BUTTS |
Pork Ribs
25 entries · top 175.4172 · median 165.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL PIT VIPERS | |
| 2 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 3 | MAMMA PIG | |
| 4 | Gardenvalley Smokers | |
| 5 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 6 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 7 | RACK N BUTTS | |
| 8 | HUCKLEBERRY | |
| 9 | SUNDAY SMOKIES | |
| 10 | BBQ HIGH LIFE | |
| 11 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 12 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 13 | PIG-EEE-LICIOUS | |
| 14 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 15 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 16 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 17 | CHATTER BOX BBQ | |
| 18 | BEACHIN' GOOD BARBECUE | |
| 19 | BUTCHER'S BEST | |
| 20 | Geaux 2 bbq | |
| 21 | Music City Smokers | |
| 22 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 23 | SWINAL TAP | |
| 24 | Q4U GEORGIA | |
| 25 | ADAMS RIB N CUE |
Pork
25 entries · top 180 · median 166.2400 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geaux 2 bbq | |
| 2 | TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL PIT VIPERS | |
| 3 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 4 | DONE RIGHT SMOKIN | |
| 5 | Gardenvalley Smokers | |
| 6 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 7 | CHATTER BOX BBQ | |
| 8 | SWINAL TAP | |
| 9 | RACK N BUTTS | |
| 10 | PIG-EEE-LICIOUS | |
| 11 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 12 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 13 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 14 | ADAMS RIB N CUE | |
| 15 | BEACHIN' GOOD BARBECUE | |
| 16 | SUNDAY SMOKIES | |
| 17 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 18 | MAMMA PIG | |
| 19 | BBQ HIGH LIFE | |
| 20 | HUCKLEBERRY | |
| 21 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 22 | Q4U GEORGIA | |
| 23 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 24 | BUTCHER'S BEST | |
| 25 | Music City Smokers |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Kids-Q — Kid'S Que
5 entries · top 180 · median 171.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE PORK HUNTERS | |
| 2 | JARVIS BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | RACK N BUTTSS | |
| 4 | BULLDAWG BBQ | |
| 5 | TFS PIT VIPERS |