Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard
2023-09-21 – 2023-09-23 · Murphysboro, IL · 📍 214 N 17th St · State championship
Reps: CAROLYN WELLS, DEBRA GAGE, WILLIAM GAGE · Prize money: $12,700.00
Grand Champion: Janky Leg BBQ (701.1200) · 50 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ
Entries
50
4 judged meats
Top score
701.1200
Winning margin
0.0344
GC over RC
Field average
652.53
median 677.62
Tightest race
Brisket
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
692.4684
10th place overall
Field spread
572.5600
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,700.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 43%
beats 57% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
54%
of the 50 teams with a home region came from outside IL
Came back for more
46%
21 of 46 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.82 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1587
avg power rating going in · stronger than 84% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0344 points — closer than 95% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
JANKY LEG BBQ took the Grand Championship home to MO.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 8–9: Matty Macks and QUE U tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: QUE U and HEFTY LEFTY BBQ tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 8–9: TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN and THE BBQ BUS tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
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 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 46 | 702.8344 | Smokin' Ghost | SWINE LIFE |
| 2023-09-21 ← this one | 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 | 176.0000 | 174.2628 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.0000 | 173.7144 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 176.0116 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 176.0000 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
50 entries · top 701.1200 · median 677.6228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 2 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 3 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 4 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 5 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 6 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 8 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 9 | Matty Macks | |
| 10 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 11 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 12 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 13 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 14 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 15 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 16 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 17 | Q-JITSU | |
| 18 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 19 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 20 | QUE U | |
| 21 | ALE YEAH BBQ | |
| 22 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 23 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 24 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 25 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 26 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 27 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 28 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 29 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 30 | BIG RACK SMOKERS | |
| 31 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 32 | A&R Q | |
| 33 | Party Q | |
| 34 | Porkosaurus | |
| 35 | Smokin Sauced | |
| 36 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 37 | Serial Grillers | |
| 38 | Ain't it the Life | |
| 39 | Bumpy Pickle | |
| 40 | SmokeMasters BBQ | |
| 41 | Dewey Smokem & Howe | |
| 42 | Fitt'n Ta Que | |
| 43 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 44 | Salt and Pepper BBQ | |
| 45 | 2 GREEKS BBQ | |
| 46 | Some Day Them | |
| 47 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 48 | Get Your Grill On | |
| 49 | Que-N-Da 662 | |
| 50 | Smokin' Alpha Gals |
Chicken
49 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 2 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 3 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 4 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 5 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 6 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 8 | Matty Macks | |
| 9 | QUE U | |
| 10 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 11 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 12 | Q-JITSU | |
| 13 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 14 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 15 | Que-N-Da 662 | |
| 16 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 17 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 18 | ALE YEAH BBQ | |
| 19 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 20 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 21 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 22 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 23 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 24 | SmokeMasters BBQ | |
| 25 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 26 | Ain't it the Life | |
| 27 | Fitt'n Ta Que | |
| 28 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 29 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 30 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 31 | Smokin Sauced | |
| 32 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 33 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 34 | 2 GREEKS BBQ | |
| 35 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 36 | Party Q | |
| 37 | Salt and Pepper BBQ | |
| 38 | Dewey Smokem & Howe | |
| 39 | A&R Q | |
| 40 | BIG RACK SMOKERS | |
| 41 | Porkosaurus | |
| 42 | Serial Grillers | |
| 43 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 44 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 45 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 46 | Get Your Grill On | |
| 47 | Bumpy Pickle | |
| 48 | Some Day Them | |
| 49 | The BBQ Commission |
Pork Ribs
49 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 2 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 3 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 4 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 5 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 6 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | A&R Q | |
| 8 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 9 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 10 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 11 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 12 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 13 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 15 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 16 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 18 | QUE U | |
| 19 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 20 | Matty Macks | |
| 21 | ALE YEAH BBQ | |
| 22 | Party Q | |
| 23 | Porkosaurus | |
| 24 | Serial Grillers | |
| 25 | Ain't it the Life | |
| 26 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 27 | Q-JITSU | |
| 28 | Bumpy Pickle | |
| 29 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 30 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 31 | Salt and Pepper BBQ | |
| 32 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 33 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 34 | BIG RACK SMOKERS | |
| 35 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 36 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 37 | SmokeMasters BBQ | |
| 38 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 39 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 40 | Smokin Sauced | |
| 41 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 42 | Dewey Smokem & Howe | |
| 43 | Some Day Them | |
| 44 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 45 | 2 GREEKS BBQ | |
| 46 | Get Your Grill On | |
| 47 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 48 | Fitt'n Ta Que | |
| 49 | Smokin' Alpha Gals |
Pork
49 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.2744 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 2 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 3 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 4 | Q-JITSU | |
| 5 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 6 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 7 | Matty Macks | |
| 8 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 9 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 10 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 11 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 12 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 13 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 14 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 15 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 16 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 17 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 18 | Porkosaurus | |
| 19 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 21 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 22 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 23 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 24 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 26 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 27 | Dewey Smokem & Howe | |
| 28 | Party Q | |
| 29 | Que-N-Da 662 | |
| 30 | QUE U | |
| 31 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 32 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 33 | BIG RACK SMOKERS | |
| 34 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 35 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 36 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 37 | Smokin Sauced | |
| 38 | Bumpy Pickle | |
| 39 | Some Day Them | |
| 40 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 41 | A&R Q | |
| 42 | Fitt'n Ta Que | |
| 43 | Ain't it the Life | |
| 44 | ALE YEAH BBQ | |
| 45 | Serial Grillers | |
| 46 | SmokeMasters BBQ | |
| 47 | 2 GREEKS BBQ | |
| 48 | Get Your Grill On | |
| 49 | Salt and Pepper BBQ |
Brisket
48 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.2742 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kith n' Kin | |
| 2 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 3 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 5 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 6 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 7 | ALE YEAH BBQ | |
| 8 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 10 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 11 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 12 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | BIG RACK SMOKERS | |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 15 | Matty Macks | |
| 16 | JACK'S GOOD OLE' BBQ | |
| 17 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 18 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 19 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 20 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 21 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 22 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 23 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 24 | THE BLUE BLOODS | |
| 25 | Serial Grillers | |
| 26 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 27 | A&R Q | |
| 28 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 29 | Smokin Sauced | |
| 30 | QUE U | |
| 31 | Bumpy Pickle | |
| 32 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 33 | Q-JITSU | |
| 34 | SmokeMasters BBQ | |
| 35 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 36 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 37 | Dewey Smokem & Howe | |
| 38 | Party Q | |
| 39 | Porkosaurus | |
| 40 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 41 | 2 GREEKS BBQ | |
| 42 | Fitt'n Ta Que | |
| 43 | Ain't it the Life | |
| 44 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 45 | Some Day Them | |
| 46 | Salt and Pepper BBQ | |
| 47 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 48 | Get Your Grill On |