Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard
2022-09-23 – 2022-09-24 · Murphysboro, IL · 📍 214 N 17th St · State championship
Reps: CAROLYN WELLS, DEBRA GAGE, WILLIAM GAGE · Prize money: $12,700.00
Grand Champion: Smokin' Ghost (702.8344) · 46 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 SWINE LIFE
Entries
46
4 judged meats
Top score
702.8344
Winning margin
1.1312
GC over RC
Field average
666.57
median 681.66
Tightest race
Pork
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
692.5372
10th place overall
Field spread
228.1256
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,700.00
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 34%
beats 66% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
54%
of the 46 teams with a home region came from outside IL
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.76 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1592
avg power rating going in · stronger than 87% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1312 points — closer than 82% of every championship in the data.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 3–4: ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN and THE BBQ BUS tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: T-Rex BBQ and Heavy Smoke BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Heavy Smoke BBQ and SmokinGhost BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🃏 An upset on the books
SmokinGhost BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 23-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-09-23 ← this one | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 46 | 702.8344 | Smokin' Ghost | SWINE LIFE |
| 2023-09-21 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 50 | 701.1200 | Janky Leg BBQ | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ |
| 2024-09-20 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 58 | 708.5716 | The BBQ Bus | WE WILL ROCK QUE |
| 2025-09-19 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 56 | 706.2628 | WeQ4u | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| 2026-09-25 | Murphysboro, IL | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180.0000 | 177.1544 | 176.0116 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 174.2744 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 175.4056 | 173.7144 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 173.7028 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
46 entries · top 702.8344 · median 681.6570
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 4 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 5 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 7 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 8 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 9 | Organizer Portal | |
| 10 | QUE U | |
| 11 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 12 | iBQ'n | |
| 13 | Risky Brisket | |
| 14 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 15 | Darty-Q | |
| 16 | WEQ4U | |
| 17 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 18 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 19 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 20 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 21 | Q-JITSU | |
| 22 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 23 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 24 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 25 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 26 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 27 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 28 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 29 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 30 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 31 | Matty Macks | |
| 32 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 33 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 34 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 35 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 36 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 37 | Serial Grillers | |
| 38 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 39 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 40 | Party Q | |
| 41 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 42 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 43 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 44 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 45 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 46 | High on the Hog |
Chicken
45 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 2 | Organizer Portal | |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 4 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 5 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 6 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 7 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 8 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 9 | QUE U | |
| 10 | Risky Brisket | |
| 11 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 12 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 13 | Darty-Q | |
| 14 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 15 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 16 | iBQ'n | |
| 17 | Q-JITSU | |
| 18 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 19 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 20 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 21 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 22 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 23 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 24 | Matty Macks | |
| 25 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 26 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 27 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 28 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 29 | WEQ4U | |
| 30 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 31 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 32 | Serial Grillers | |
| 33 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 34 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 35 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 36 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 37 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 38 | Party Q | |
| 39 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 40 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 41 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 42 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 43 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 44 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 45 | Ellsworth BBQ |
Pork Ribs
46 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | WEQ4U | |
| 3 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 4 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 5 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 6 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 8 | QUE U | |
| 9 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 10 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 11 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 12 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 13 | Q-JITSU | |
| 14 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 16 | Risky Brisket | |
| 17 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 18 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 19 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 20 | iBQ'n | |
| 21 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 22 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 23 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 24 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 25 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 26 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 28 | Matty Macks | |
| 29 | Organizer Portal | |
| 30 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Darty-Q | |
| 32 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 33 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 34 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 35 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 36 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 37 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 38 | Serial Grillers | |
| 39 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 40 | High on the Hog | |
| 41 | Party Q | |
| 42 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 43 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 44 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 45 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 46 | The BBQ Commission |
Pork
46 entries · top 176.5600 · median 169.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 3 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 4 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 5 | Risky Brisket | |
| 6 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 7 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 8 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 9 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 10 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 11 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 12 | WEQ4U | |
| 13 | Darty-Q | |
| 14 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 15 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 17 | iBQ'n | |
| 18 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 19 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 20 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 21 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 22 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 24 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 25 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 26 | QUE U | |
| 27 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 28 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 29 | Q-JITSU | |
| 30 | Organizer Portal | |
| 31 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 32 | Matty Macks | |
| 33 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 34 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 35 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 36 | Serial Grillers | |
| 37 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 38 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 39 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 40 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 41 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 42 | High on the Hog | |
| 43 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 44 | Party Q | |
| 45 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 46 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ |
Brisket
46 entries · top 180.0000 · median 166.8114 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 3 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 4 | Organizer Portal | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 7 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 8 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 9 | Darty-Q | |
| 10 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | QUE U | |
| 12 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 13 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 14 | iBQ'n | |
| 15 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 16 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 17 | Q-JITSU | |
| 18 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 19 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 20 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 21 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 22 | WEQ4U | |
| 23 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 24 | Risky Brisket | |
| 25 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 26 | Matty Macks | |
| 27 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 28 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 29 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 30 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 31 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 32 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 33 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 34 | High on the Hog | |
| 35 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 36 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 37 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 38 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 39 | Party Q | |
| 40 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 41 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 42 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 43 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 44 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 45 | Serial Grillers | |
| 46 | The BBQ Commission |