The one to beat
2×
one call ahead of them
Pig In or Pig Out has finished one call ahead of SULTANS OF SWINE 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
SULTANS OF SWINE
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1445
peak 1445 · rated over 23 contests ⓘ
Contests
25
in the data
First seen
2013-06-28
latest 2017-06-16
Best ToY finish
#692
Master 2014
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
0
4 podiums
Overall top-10s
1
of 25 contests
Avg finish
top 69%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
639.07 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 624.21 (+14.86)
Walk rate
32%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±47.14
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 161.99 · weakest Brisket (152.76)
Road miles
7,686
mi across 25 mapped stops · furthest 743 mi
Schedule strength
35%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1547)
Master avg
624.21 / 720
23 Master contests · 0 GCs
Storylines (8 found in this team's record)
Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.
Their season
2014
their best year
2014 was the year it came together: 8 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 54%.
- 8 contests
- 1 overall top-10s
- 0 category wins
- average top 54%
A tough matchup
10–0
behind in the head-to-head
3 EYZ BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings
3 EYZ BBQ has come out ahead in 10 of their 10 shared contests.
The weak link
−9.2
points behind their best meat
Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 9.24 points below their pork, and turns into a call 13% of the time against 17%.
- Brisket avg 152.76
- Pork avg 161.99
- 3 calls in 23 entries
A strong matchup
6–1
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 86% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of JAM'N HAMS in 6 of their 7 shared contests.
Pork nemesis
8 of 10
shared pork entries lost
3 EYZ BBQ ahead 80% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, 3 EYZ BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 10 shared pork entries.
An April team
Top 51%
average finish in April
Something about April: average finish in the top 51% across 3 contests, versus top 69% the rest of the year.
- 3 April contests
- top 69% the rest of the year
The long haul
7,686
road miles between contests
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 7,686 miles across 25 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 743 miles to When Pigs Fly South.
- 25 mapped stops
- furthest 743 mi
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.
80 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#5716 of the rated field
- Contests
- 5
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1444
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to SULTANS OF SWINE)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team SULTANS OF SWINE has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#5695 of the rated field
- Contests
- 25
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 4%
- Peak
- 1445
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 25 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#5703 of the rated field
- Contests
- 20
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 25%
- Peak
- 1503
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 20 contests to 25, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#5697 of the rated field
- Contests
- 27
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1445
No shared contest yet.
27 contests and no Grand Championship yet.
⚔ Head-to-head#5699 of the rated field
- Contests
- 27
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1445
No shared contest yet.
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-head#5702 of the rated field
- Contests
- 16
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1445
No shared contest yet.
Level with SULTANS OF SWINE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 EYZ BBQ | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | 9 | 3 | 6 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| 4:20 Q | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| APORKALYPSE NOW | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| CHECKERED PIG | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| JAM'N HAMS | 7 | 6 | 1 | 86% | ⚔ compare |
| 2 RHODIES BBQ | 7 | 4 | 3 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| MAKIN BACON BBQ | 7 | 3 | 4 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | 7 | 3 | 4 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| HOOS SMOKIN | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 173.7028 | 137.1316 | 159.14 | top 65% |
| Pork Ribs | 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 169.1544 | 138.7772 | 157.24 | top 64% |
| Pork | 23 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 177.1428 | 149.0972 | 161.99 | top 54% |
| Brisket | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 167.9772 | 129.0972 | 152.76 | top 68% |
“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.
By state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA | 12 | 0 | top 59% |
| WV | 4 | 0 | top 71% |
| FL | 2 | 0 | top 98% |
| NC | 2 | 0 | top 66% |
| TN | 1 | 0 | top 94% |
| KY | 1 | 0 | top 79% |
| IN | 1 | 0 | top 86% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 0 | top 50% |
| Medium (20–39) | 7 | 0 | top 70% |
| Large (40+) | 15 | 0 | top 69% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almost Heaven BBQ Bash | 2 | 22 | 0 | top 65% | 2016-06-17 |
| Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest | 2 | 17 | 0 | top 50% | 2015-10-16 |
The story so far (14 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
4 yrs
2013-06-28 → 2017-06-16
Busiest season
2014
8 contests
Contests a season
5
across 5 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
VA
12 of 25 contests · 7 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
21
2 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
23 entries · 0 wins · 4 calls
Strongest meat
Pork
averages 161.99 · weakest Brisket (152.76)
Walk rate
32%
a top-10 call in 8 of 25 contests
Overall top-10 rate
4%
1 of 25 contests
Master average
624.21
out of 720 · 23 contests · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
562
301–656 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
7,686
25 mapped stops · furthest 743 mi
Schedule strength
1547
average field rating faced — tougher than 35% of rated contests
Power rating
1445
peak 1445 · #5707 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Covington Cork and Pork Festival
- First call Bluemont BBQ Bash & Blackberry Bonanza
- Peak power rating (1492) Bluemont BBQ Bash & Blackberry Bonanza
- 2014
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score660.9940 Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge
- Career-best single call (Pork)177.1428 Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge
- 10th tracked contest Hogging Up BBQ Festival
- First overall top-10 Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival
- 2016
- Career-best overall score662.1140 Almost Heaven BBQ Bash
- 2017
- 25th tracked contest Almost Heaven BBQ Bash
- Most recent contest Almost Heaven BBQ Bash
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +9.8 | Rockahock's Pickin' and Pullin' Festival | 2014-04-04 |
| +8.6 | Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge | 2014-05-09 |
| +7 | 2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition | 2015-04-17 |
| +6.1 | Almost Heaven BBQ Bash | 2016-06-17 |
| +5.6 | Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest | 2014-10-17 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.3 | Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic | 2013-09-20 |
| -13.7 | When Pigs Fly South | 2014-11-07 |
| -12.7 | When Pigs Fly South | 2013-11-15 |
| -11.3 | Covington Cork and Pork Festival | 2013-06-28 |
| -8.6 | Smoke on the Shores | 2017-03-10 |
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
How entries end (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 84% | 89.2% | 89.1% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 66% | 92% | 88.5% |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17% | top 71% | 91.2% | 89.2% |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 54% | 91.8% | 88% |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 78% | 88% | 81.2% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-06-16 | Almost Heaven BBQ Bash Weston, WV | 43 / 57 (642.2176) | 34 (164.0000) | 42 (155.3716) | 41 (160.5716) | 28 (162.2744) |
| 2017-03-10 | Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN | 58 / 62 (640.9828) | 43 (165.6684) | 56 (155.9772) | 27 (167.9772) | 59 (151.3600) |
| 2016-09-30 | Que & Cruz Louisa, VA | 19 / 31 (641.0512) | 25 (156.5256) | 10 (166.8916) | 17 (161.6912) | 20 (155.9428) |
| 2016-06-17 | Almost Heaven BBQ Bash Buckhannon, WV | 22 / 42 (662.1140) | 30 (165.6684) | 21 (166.2400) | 15 (169.6684) | 27 (160.5372) |
| 2016-04-29 | 3rd Annual Pickin' N Pullin Lanexa, VA | 40 / 48 (608.9948) | 31 (159.9772) | 28 (160.5488) | 38 (154.8116) | 48 (133.6572) |
| 2015-10-16 | Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA | 21 / 37 (636.4568) | 15 (163.9656) | 19 (161.6684) | 32 (149.0972) | 13 (161.7256) |
| 2015-09-11 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 23 / 29 (651.8632) | 13 (169.7144) | 27 (155.3716) | 16 (168.5600) | 23 (158.2172) |
| 2015-07-17 | Wine, Brew & Bar-B-Que Too! New Palestine, IN | 38 / 44 (646.2172) | 29 (166.8456) | 43 (147.3716) | 23 (168.5600) | 26 (163.4400) |
| 2015-06-26 | Covington Cork & Pork Festival Covington, VA | 21 / 25 (613.6572) | 24 (148.5256) | 20 (154.8456) | 14 (161.1544) | 21 (149.1316) |
| 2015-06-19 | Almost Heaven BBQ Bash Buckhannon, WV | 32 / 41 (650.2056) | 25 (167.4400) | 24 (167.9656) | 15 (168.0116) | 39 (146.7884) |
| 2015-04-17 | 2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition Lanexa, VA | 18 / 46 (656.5028) | 8 (172.5600) | 23 (160.5600) | 18 (164.5600) | 23 (158.8228) |
| 2014-11-07 | When Pigs Fly South Lakeland, FL | 42 / 42 (590.1828) | 35 (149.7372) | 39 (147.3600) | 24 (163.9884) | 41 (129.0972) |
| 2014-10-17 | Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA | 17 / 40 (651.3028) | 4 (173.7028) | 27 (157.6916) | 5 (169.6800) | 33 (150.2284) |
| 2014-08-22 | Music City BBQ Festival Nashville, TN | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014-08-22 | Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival Harrisonburg, VA | 8 / 16 (636.4568) | 10 (157.6800) | 6 (161.7372) | 11 (156.5140) | 6 (160.5256) |
| 2014-06-27 | Hogging Up BBQ Festival Winchester, VA | 33 / 46 (615.2568) | 41 (151.3712) | 41 (150.7772) | 30 (155.4056) | 20 (157.7028) |
| 2014-05-09 | Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge Kannapolis, NC | 25 / 80 (660.9940) | 43 (161.6684) | 36 (162.8228) | 3 (177.1428) | 48 (159.3600) |
| 2014-04-04 | Rockahock's Pickin' and Pullin' Festival Lanexa, VA | 12 / 41 (646.7432) | 18 (162.2400) | 6 (164.0116) | 34 (152.5144) | 6 (167.9772) |
| 2014-01-23 | The Tiger Town Pig Festival Lakeland, FL | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013-11-15 | When Pigs Fly South Lakeland, FL | 47 / 49 (562.6748) | 49 (137.1316) | 44 (138.7772) | 44 (153.1200) | 49 (133.6460) |
| 2013-10-18 | Autumnfest Woodstock, VA | 23 / 40 (627.2912) | 40 (139.9428) | 24 (154.2400) | 3 (169.1428) | 8 (163.9656) |
| 2013-09-20 | Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC | 72 / 72 (430.8004) | — | 70 (145.6916) | 70 (152.0000) | 72 (133.1088) |
| 2013-09-06 | Pickin' in the Panhandle Inwood, WV | 29 / 37 (630.6860) | 28 (156.5372) | 21 (158.2744) | 20 (162.2400) | 27 (153.6344) |
| 2013-07-26 | Bluemont BBQ Bash & Blackberry Bonanza Bluemont, VA | 15 / 33 (633.6800) | 31 (149.7028) | 2 (169.1544) | 2 (170.2856) | 31 (144.5372) |
| 2013-06-28 | Covington Cork and Pork Festival Covington, VA | 22 / 25 (620.5714) | 14 (160.5712) | 19 (153.1432) | 21 (149.1428) | 16 (157.7142) |
Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)
Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #2274 (60 pts) | #2353 (60 pts) | #2349 (60 pts) | #2326 (60 pts) | #2345 (60 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #887 (369 pts) | #749 (494 pts) | #982 (354 pts) | #791 (469 pts) | #913 (384 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #692 (518 pts) | #657 (578 pts) | #691 (548 pts) | #573 (688 pts) | #647 (573 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #942 (310 pts) | #1058 (290 pts) | #677 (490 pts) | #501 (655 pts) | #838 (375 pts) |