High-water mark
678.2516
career-best overall
94.2% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 678.2516 at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour — 94.2% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2016-03-18
EMERALD BUFFALO
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1520
peak 1544 · rated over 15 contests ⓘ
Contests
15
in the data
First seen
2013-03-22
latest 2018-08-03
Best ToY finish
#1098
Master 2013
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
0
3 podiums
Overall top-10s
3
of 15 contests
Avg finish
top 50%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
621.72 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 639.37 (-17.65)
Walk rate
53%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
2
best run (overall)
Consistency
±56.78
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 166.46 · weakest Pork (163.63)
Road miles
10,349
mi across 15 mapped stops · furthest 1192 mi
Schedule strength
42%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1555)
Master avg
639.37 / 720
15 Master contests · 0 GCs
Storylines (11 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.
The one to beat
2×
one call ahead of them
Rhythm n QUE has finished one call ahead of EMERALD BUFFALO 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
Their season
2013
their best year
2013 was the year it came together: 4 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 37%.
- 4 contests
- 2 overall top-10s
- 0 category wins
- average top 37%
A tough matchup
6–2
behind in the head-to-head
LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ ahead in 75% of their meetings
LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ has come out ahead in 6 of their 8 shared contests.
A strong matchup
6–2
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 75% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of SEDALIA MASTERBASTERS in 6 of their 8 shared contests.
Chicken nemesis
7 of 8
shared chicken entries lost
LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ ahead 88% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ has out-cooked them in 7 of 8 shared chicken entries.
Announced themselves early
5th
at their very first contest
Finished 5 of 30 at their very first tracked contest, Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (2013-03-22).
- 2013-03-22
- 30-team field
Boom or bust
±7.89%
swing around their own average
Their overall swings ±7.89% of a perfect score around its own average — when it lands they're dangerous, and when it doesn't the weekend is gone by lunch.
- averages 88.8% of a perfect score
- best 94.2%
An October team
Top 37%
average finish in October
Something about October: average finish in the top 37% across 5 contests, versus top 50% the rest of the year.
- 5 October contests
- top 50% the rest of the year
The long haul
10,349
road miles between contests
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 10,349 miles across 15 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,192 miles to Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional).
- 15 mapped stops
- furthest 1,192 mi
A standing appointment
5
years running at one contest
They've cooked Sam's Club National BBQ Tour every year from 2013 to 2017 — the contest they never miss.
- 5 visits in all
- best finish 5th
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.
79 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2505 of the rated field
- Contests
- 20
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 15%
- Peak
- 1533
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to EMERALD BUFFALO)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team EMERALD BUFFALO has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#2501 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1522
2–1 in 3 shared contests (67% to EMERALD BUFFALO)
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 11 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#2496 of the rated field
- Contests
- 115
- GCs
- 3
- Top-10s
- 28%
- Peak
- 1697
1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to EMERALD BUFFALO)
115 contests to 15: their number has had years to settle where EMERALD BUFFALO's is still finding its level.
⚔ Head-to-head#2488 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 53%
- Peak
- 1536
No shared contest yet.
Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 15 contests, alongside a 53% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-head#2509 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1519
No shared contest yet.
They turned up 11 years after EMERALD BUFFALO did, first appearing in 2024.
⚔ Head-to-head#2489 of the rated field
- Contests
- 17
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 12%
- Peak
- 1522
No shared contest yet.
Level with EMERALD BUFFALO 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEDALIA MASTERBASTERS | 8 | 6 | 2 | 75% | ⚔ compare |
| Bare Bones BBQ Team | 8 | 4 | 4 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN O BBQ | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| SQUEAL OF APPROVAL | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| PIG NEWTON | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKERS PURGATORY | 7 | 5 | 2 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| Rhythm n QUE | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| BURNT FINGER BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| CHILLIN AND GRILLIN CREW | 6 | 6 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Bad Boyz BBQ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 176.0000 | 151.4056 | 166.46 | top 44% |
| Pork Ribs | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 174.2628 | 156.5712 | 163.97 | top 55% |
| Pork | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 173.7144 | 155.4056 | 163.63 | top 56% |
| Brisket | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 173.7144 | 155.3944 | 165.37 | top 44% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MO | 7 | 0 | top 53% |
| AZ | 5 | 0 | top 45% |
| KS | 1 | 0 | top 51% |
| AR | 1 | 0 | top 66% |
| NV | 1 | 0 | top 33% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 8 | 0 | top 54% |
| Large (40+) | 7 | 0 | top 45% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 5 | 5 | 0 | top 45% | 2017-03-17 |
| Laurie Hillbilly BBQ | 4 | 28 | 0 | top 75% | 2018-08-03 |
The story so far (15 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
5.4 yrs
2013-03-22 → 2018-08-03
Busiest season
2013
4 contests
Contests a season
2.5
across 6 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
MO
7 of 15 contests · 5 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
8
2 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
15 entries · 0 wins · 5 calls
Strongest meat
Chicken
averages 166.46 · weakest Pork (163.63)
Walk rate
53%
a top-10 call in 8 of 15 contests
Overall top-10 rate
20%
3 of 15 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight contests
Master average
639.37
out of 720 · 15 contests · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
1,375
1,708–916 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
10,349
15 mapped stops · furthest 1,192 mi
Schedule strength
1555
average field rating faced — tougher than 42% of rated contests
Power rating
1520
peak 1544 · #2499 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.7144 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 2016
- 10th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- Career-best overall score678.2516 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- Peak power rating (1544) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 2017
- Career-best single call (Chicken)176.0000 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 2018
- Most recent contest Laurie Hillbilly BBQ
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +13.1 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open | 2015-10-03 |
| +11.8 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2013-03-22 |
| +7.6 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open | 2014-10-02 |
| +7.2 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2016-03-18 |
| +6.3 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) | 2013-04-19 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12.8 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ | 2018-08-03 |
| -7.2 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ | 2015-07-31 |
| -5.4 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2017-03-17 |
| -4.9 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ | 2017-08-04 |
| -3 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2014-03-21 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 97% | 66.5% | 66.5% |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 73% | 91.1% | 91.1% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 47% | 94.2% | 92.4% |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 41% | 93.2% | 84.9% |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 45% | 92.6% | 91.2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50% | top 37% | 93.7% | 91.4% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-08-03 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO | 34 / 35 (478.7540) | 34 (151.4056) | 15 (166.2400) | 26 (161.1084) | — |
| 2017-08-04 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO | 28 / 40 (655.8400) | 4 (175.4172) | 29 (160.5028) | 27 (162.8344) | 35 (157.0856) |
| 2017-03-17 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ | 22 / 29 (655.8856) | 6 (176.0000) | 24 (160.5256) | 27 (155.4056) | 17 (163.9544) |
| 2016-10-29 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue(OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 284 / 557 (654.2400) | 181 (167.9884) | 397 (158.2972) | 83 (171.9772) | 380 (155.9772) |
| 2016-08-05 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO | 29 / 50 (663.8972) | 19 (169.6800) | 7 (174.2628) | 27 (164.5600) | 43 (155.3944) |
| 2016-03-18 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ | 10 / 30 (678.2516) | 8 (171.4400) | 21 (165.1200) | 7 (173.7144) | 13 (167.9772) |
| 2015-10-03 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 40 / 606 (503.9312) | 377 (161.1200) | 315 (163.3828) | 313 (163.9544) | 44 (173.7144) |
| 2015-07-31 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO | 29 / 38 (658.6856) | 37 (151.9084) | 16 (168.5716) | 7 (173.1200) | 25 (165.0856) |
| 2015-03-20 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ | 12 / 29 (671.3484) | 6 (174.2856) | 22 (161.6800) | 9 (169.6800) | 11 (165.7028) |
| 2014-10-02 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 164 / 552 (666.7200) | 79 (173.1200) | 398 (157.6572) | 303 (162.8228) | 49 (173.1200) |
| 2014-03-21 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ | 18 / 30 (646.7656) | 16 (164.5944) | 19 (160.5028) | 20 (159.4056) | 14 (162.2628) |
| 2013-10-18 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship Bentonville, AR | 33 / 50 (674.8004) | 11 (175.4400) | 27 (169.6800) | 46 (159.9544) | 28 (169.7260) |
| 2013-10-03 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 175 / 535 (650.1028) | 383 (155.3484) | 134 (165.6800) | 342 (157.0972) | 33 (171.9772) |
| 2013-04-19 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Las Vegas, NV | 10 / 30 (650.8570) | 3 (172.0000) | 23 (156.5712) | 21 (159.4286) | 10 (162.8572) |
| 2013-03-22 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ | 5 / 30 (657.7144) | 23 (157.1430) | 2 (170.8572) | 20 (159.4286) | 3 (170.2856) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1954 (60 pts) | #2012 (60 pts) | #1771 (110 pts) | #2030 (60 pts) | — |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1680 (129 pts) | #999 (379 pts) | #1945 (119 pts) | #1959 (114 pts) | #1644 (154 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1186 (250 pts) | #1120 (300 pts) | #1120 (300 pts) | #1201 (280 pts) | #1309 (235 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #1190 (239 pts) | #1106 (289 pts) | #1300 (234 pts) | #967 (364 pts) | #1207 (244 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #1510 (165 pts) | #1558 (175 pts) | #1606 (160 pts) | #1653 (155 pts) | #1488 (185 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1098 (255 pts) | #1650 (140 pts) | #942 (330 pts) | #1534 (155 pts) | #984 (305 pts) |