OWLS NEST BBQ

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#5582

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1448

peak 1448 · rated over 22 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-09-28

latest 2018-05-11

Best ToY finish

#638

Master 2016

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 24 contests

Avg finish

top 72%

overall standings

Best overall

687.4176 / 720

Master · BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)

Perfect 180s

Current form

649.31 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 655.66 (-6.35)

Walk rate

25%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.2972

Chicken · The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest

Consistency

±16.89

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 167.80 · weakest Pork (161.36)

Road miles

2,572

mi across 24 mapped stops · furthest 309 mi

Schedule strength

70%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1589)

Master avg

655.66 / 720

22 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

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.

High-water mark

687.4176 career-best overall

95.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 687.4176 at BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) — 95.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
2016-04-29

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

RUNWAY SMOKE has finished one call ahead of OWLS NEST BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 7 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 62%.

7 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 62%

A tough matchup

15–0 behind in the head-to-head

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N ahead in 100% of their meetings

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has come out ahead in 15 of their 15 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.4 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.44 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 5% of the time against 22%.

Pork avg 161.36
Chicken avg 167.80
1 calls in 22 entries

A strong matchup

5–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of CAUGHT BY THE FIRE in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

14 of 15 shared chicken entries lost

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N ahead 93% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has out-cooked them in 14 of 15 shared chicken entries.

The metronome

±2.35% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.35% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.1% of a perfect score
24 contests

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.

104 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

JACKWAGON BBQ

#5573 of the rated field

1448 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1448

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 21 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 21 contests
last seen 2018-06-22

⚔ Head-to-head

Wicked Pig BBQ

#5583 of the rated field

1448 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1448

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 24, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 20 contests
last seen 2026-08-21

⚔ Head-to-head

WILLY'S Q SHACK

#5585 of the rated field

1448 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1448

No shared contest yet.

17 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 17 contests
last seen 2018-10-05

⚔ Head-to-head

TORNADO BBQ

#5566 of the rated field

1448 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 32
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1448

No shared contest yet.

They turned up 9 years after OWLS NEST BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.

rated over 30 contests
last seen 2026-08-21

⚔ Head-to-head

Bare Bones BBQ Team

#5590 of the rated field

1448 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 31
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 3%
Peak: 1448

No shared contest yet.

Level with OWLS NEST BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 31 contests
last seen 2024-10-30

⚔ Head-to-head

HOG STREET BULLIES

#5580 of the rated field

1448 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 35
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1448

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 35 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 35 contests
last seen 2019-10-18

⚔ Head-to-head

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMOKE ON THIS	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
SWINE AND SHINE BBQ	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
ATLANTA BBQ STORE	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
OLD PLANTATION BBQ	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ	10	6	4	60%	⚔ compare
Under the Radar	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS	9	6	3	67%	⚔ compare
FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
J & B'S BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
Bubba Q	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
CONTAGIOUS Q	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	23	5	178.2972	149.6800	167.80	top 57%
Pork Ribs	23	2	174.8456	151.3372	163.82	top 66%
Pork	22	1	170.8456	144.4800	161.36	top 74%
Brisket	22	1	171.9656	153.0744	163.45	top 62%

“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	Avg finish
GA	14	top 72%
TN	7	top 70%
AL	1	top 83%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	11	0	top 66%
Large (40+)	11	0	top 78%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
The National BBQ Cup (Day 2)	2	39	top 84%	2016-05-28
Roman Roast on the River	2	11	top 41%	2016-05-13
Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (GBC Qualifier)	2	31	top 94%	2015-11-13

The story so far (14 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 4.6 yrs 2013-09-28 → 2018-05-11

Busiest season 2016 7 contests

Contests a season 4 across 6 seasons in the data

Cooks most in GA 14 of 24 contests · 3 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 19 3 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 23 entries · 0 wins · 5 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 167.80 · weakest Pork (161.36)

Walk rate 25% a top-10 call in 6 of 24 contests

Overall top-10 rate 4% 1 of 24 contests

Master average 655.66 out of 720 · 22 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 461 267–746 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 2,572 24 mapped stops · furthest 309 mi

Schedule strength 1589 average field rating faced — tougher than 70% of rated contests

Power rating 1448 peak 1448 · #5582 of 6,413 rated

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

2013
Jul 26 First tracked contest Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash
Sep 28 Peak power rating (1493) Whole Hawg Happenin'
2014
May 30 First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.5656 The Rotary Club of West Knoxville - Rocky Top Hummin' & Strummin' BBQ Cook-Off
2015
May 29 First call The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest
May 29 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.2972 The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest
Jul 31 10th tracked contest I Grill Because I CARE (Competitor's Series)
2016
Apr 29 First overall top-10 BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)
Apr 29 Career-best overall score687.4176 BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)
2018
May 11 Most recent contest Roman Roast on the River

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.3	BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)	2016-04-29
+9.1	Roman Roast on the River	2016-05-13
+5.3	Blount County BBQ Bash	2015-06-26
+3.4	Roman Roast on the River	2015-05-08
+2.3	The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest	2015-05-29

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.8	Whole Hawg Happenin' (SBBQA)	2014-09-27
-8.5	Roman Roast on the River	2018-05-11
-8.1	Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier)	2016-03-11
-8	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (GBC Qualifier)	2015-11-13
-7.3	Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier)	2017-12-01

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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2018	1	0	0%	top 90%	91%	91%
2017	3	0	0%	top 83%	90.8%	90.2%
2016	7	1	43%	top 67%	95.5%	91.9%
2015	7	0	43%	top 62%	94.7%	91.9%
2014	4	0	0%	top 81%	91.3%	89.4%
2013	2	0	0%	top 77%	89.7%	89.7%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2018-05-11	Roman Roast on the River Rome, GA	35 / 39 (655.2224)	34 (167.3712)	23 (168.5484)	29 (166.2284)	37 (153.0744)
2017-12-01	Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	27 / 30 (644.9488)	19 (166.2400)	27 (161.6456)	30 (155.9316)	23 (161.1316)
2017-11-08	World Barbecue Championship Orange Beach, AL	77 / 93 (653.5884)	83 (161.6456)	66 (164.0000)	76 (161.1200)	50 (166.8228)
2017-03-03	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA	48 / 63 (649.0060)	45 (164.5372)	35 (165.6800)	63 (149.0972)	20 (169.6916)
2016-11-18	Que'n in Cumming (Day 1) Cumming, GA	41 / 47 (643.7828)	34 (166.2400)	46 (151.3372)	36 (161.0856)	32 (165.1200)
2016-06-03	Fire in the Valley Red Bank BBQ Red Bank(Chattanooga), TN	30 / 39 (660.9940)	32 (164.5256)	32 (161.1316)	27 (164.5140)	13 (170.8228)
2016-05-28	The National BBQ Cup (Day 2) Nashville, TN	39 / 50 (672.4456)	8 (176.5600)	26 (170.2628)	40 (166.8228)	47 (158.8000)
2016-05-27	The National BBQ Cup (Day 1) Nashville, TN	46 / 51 (666.1716)	34 (170.8344)	41 (165.1316)	21 (170.8456)	48 (159.3600)
2016-05-13	Roman Roast on the River Rome, GA	11 / 36 (671.3140)	22 (164.5484)	20 (165.6800)	12 (169.6684)	9 (171.4172)
2016-04-29	BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	6 / 35 (687.4176)	7 (173.7144)	6 (173.7144)	9 (170.8344)	11 (169.1544)
2016-03-11	Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier) Bainbridge, GA	81 / 89 (627.2340)	42 (166.8344)	77 (157.0856)	88 (149.0856)	74 (154.2284)
2015-12-04	Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	27 / 39 (656.5260)	23 (166.8228)	11 (169.7144)	18 (166.8344)	35 (153.1544)
2015-11-13	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (GBC Qualifier) Chatsworth, GA	46 / 48 (624.3544)	45 (157.6800)	27 (169.1200)	48 (144.4800)	46 (153.0744)
2015-10-02	Smoke-N-Thunder BBQ Classic Day 1 (GBC Qualifier) Rome, GA	30 / 52 (667.8284)	30 (169.6800)	35 (165.0972)	44 (161.0856)	13 (171.9656)
2015-07-31	I Grill Because I CARE (Competitor's Series) New Hope, AL	—	10 (173.7256)	10 (174.8456)	—	—
2015-06-26	Blount County BBQ Bash Maryville, TN	17 / 38 (667.3028)	9 (173.7028)	26 (160.5256)	20 (165.6800)	18 (167.3944)
2015-05-29	The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest Knoxville, TN	21 / 39 (681.6228)	4 (178.2972)	13 (172.0000)	36 (162.7884)	21 (168.5372)
2015-05-08	Roman Roast on the River Rome, GA	21 / 41 (674.2172)	23 (168.5372)	18 (169.6800)	26 (167.4400)	21 (168.5600)
2014-11-14	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (SBBQA) Chatsworth, GA	31 / 34 (640.3888)	22 (169.6800)	34 (153.0744)	31 (156.5372)	26 (161.0972)
2014-09-27	Whole Hawg Happenin' (SBBQA) Marietta, GA	30 / 34 (626.6972)	33 (149.6800)	29 (155.9316)	31 (155.9656)	14 (165.1200)
2014-07-25	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN	35 / 49 (657.6456)	21 (169.7028)	40 (160.5600)	37 (162.2628)	32 (165.1200)
2014-05-30	The Rotary Club of West Knoxville - Rocky Top Hummin' & Strummin' BBQ Cook-Off Knoxville, TN	35 / 48 (649.5656)	23 (169.1200)	36 (161.7028)	33 (163.9428)	42 (154.8000)
2013-09-28	Whole Hawg Happenin' Marietta, GA	23 / 30 (646.1484)	18 (169.6684)	29 (151.3828)	24 (157.6800)	13 (167.4172)
2013-07-26	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN	—	—	—	—	—

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
2017 ↗	Master	#2212 (60 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#2304 (60 pts)	#2260 (60 pts)	#2109 (85 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#638 (605 pts)	#648 (635 pts)	#719 (560 pts)	#684 (590 pts)	#630 (635 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#786 (440 pts)	#626 (615 pts)	#727 (525 pts)	#866 (420 pts)	#742 (495 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1669 (147 pts)	#1546 (177 pts)	#1719 (147 pts)	#1736 (147 pts)	#1725 (147 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#2498 (65 pts)	#1974 (90 pts)	#2656 (55 pts)	#2584 (60 pts)	#1803 (115 pts)