They almost always walk
60%
of contests with a top-10 call
A call in 25 of 42 contests
A top-10 category call in 60% of their 42 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1558
peak 1589 · rated over 42 contests ⓘ
Best runs
4
straight top-10s
Contests
42
in the data
First seen
2013-03-15
latest 2018-06-15
Best ToY finish
#267
Master 2014
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
3
12 podiums
Overall top-10s
11
of 42 contests
Avg finish
top 45%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
663.06 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 668.68 (-5.63)
Walk rate
60%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
4
best run (overall)
Consistency
±10.81
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 168.85 · weakest Brisket (165.36)
Road miles
6,384
mi across 42 mapped stops · furthest 194 mi
Schedule strength
31%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1542)
Master avg
668.68 / 720
42 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.
High-water mark
687.3484
career-best overall
95.5% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 687.3484 at Roast n' Boast — 95.5% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2013-08-23
The one to beat
2×
one call ahead of them
THE BLUE BLOODS has finished one call ahead of CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
Their season
2013
their best year
2013 was the year it came together: 8 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 2 category wins, at an average finish in the top 34%.
- 8 contests
- 2 overall top-10s
- 2 category wins
- average top 34%
A tough matchup
24–1
behind in the head-to-head
BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ ahead in 96% of their meetings
BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ has come out ahead in 24 of their 25 shared contests.
A strong matchup
9–2
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 82% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of Misfits of Smoke in 9 of their 11 shared contests.
Chicken nemesis
19 of 25
shared chicken entries lost
BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ ahead 76% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ has out-cooked them in 19 of 25 shared chicken entries.
Looking over their shoulder
3×
one call behind them
SMOKIN' SOBER...SOMETIMES has landed one call behind them 3 times.
An August team
Top 35%
average finish in August
Something about August: average finish in the top 35% across 3 contests, versus top 45% the rest of the year.
- 3 August contests
- top 45% the rest of the year
The long haul
6,384
road miles between contests
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 6,384 miles across 42 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 194 miles to 'Que at the View.
- 42 mapped stops
- furthest 194 mi
The metronome
±1.50%
swing around their own average
Their overall lands within ±1.50% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.
- averages 92.9% of a perfect score
- 42 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.
46 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1588 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 67%
- Peak
- 1559
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#1592 of the rated field
- Contests
- 52
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 23%
- Peak
- 1593
No shared contest yet.
They've been 1593 at their best, 35 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Head-to-head#1595 of the rated field
- Contests
- 24
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 25%
- Peak
- 1560
No shared contest yet.
Fewer contests behind them than CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING has cooked, 24 to 42, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.
⚔ Head-to-head#1594 of the rated field
- Contests
- 94
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 23%
- Peak
- 1620
No shared contest yet.
94 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 23% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Head-to-head#1596 of the rated field
- Contests
- 13
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 38%
- Peak
- 1562
No shared contest yet.
Level with CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head#1590 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 50%
- Peak
- 1558
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2015, 3 years before CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ | 25 | 1 | 24 | 4% | ⚔ compare |
| KILLER HOGS | 24 | 2 | 22 | 8% | ⚔ compare |
| South Pork | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' SOBER...SOMETIMES | 19 | 9 | 10 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW | 18 | 2 | 16 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| SWEET DREAMS BBQ | 17 | 9 | 8 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| RED EYED SMOKERS | 17 | 4 | 13 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| GIVE IT TO GOD | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19% | ⚔ compare |
| BOOTYQUE | 16 | 2 | 14 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| Organizer Portal | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| CAJUN BLAZE | 15 | 1 | 14 | 7% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG WHIT AND THE BOYS | 13 | 5 | 8 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| BUTTS A'BLAZE BATESVILLE | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| THE BLUE BLOODS | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| KOKOMO Q | 12 | 5 | 7 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 42 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 178.2972 | 155.9772 | 168.85 | top 42% |
| Pork Ribs | 42 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 176.0000 | 154.2172 | 166.89 | top 45% |
| Pork | 42 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 179.4400 | 150.8000 | 167.58 | top 46% |
| Brisket | 42 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 174.3200 | 150.8340 | 165.36 | top 49% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS | 36 | 0 | top 46% |
| LA | 3 | 0 | top 25% |
| TN | 2 | 0 | top 41% |
| AL | 1 | 0 | top 46% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 0 | top 41% |
| Medium (20–39) | 24 | 0 | top 40% |
| Large (40+) | 17 | 0 | top 51% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Que at the View | 3 | 8 | 0 | top 53% | 2016-04-08 |
| Roast N' Boast | 3 | 3 | 0 | top 26% | 2015-10-02 |
| Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off | 2 | 23 | 0 | top 65% | 2018-06-15 |
| *Roast N Boast BBQ | 2 | 17 | 0 | top 69% | 2017-10-06 |
| *Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY2) (JUDGES LIST FULL) | 2 | 7 | 0 | top 50% | 2017-09-16 |
| Mississippi Springfest BBQ Contest | 2 | 13 | 0 | top 48% | 2016-05-13 |
| Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 26% | 2015-09-25 |
| Stand By Your Grill | 2 | 15 | 0 | top 44% | 2014-08-15 |
| Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge | 2 | 11 | 0 | top 53% | 2014-05-02 |
The story so far (15 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
5.3 yrs
2013-03-15 → 2018-06-15
Busiest season
2014
11 contests
Contests a season
7
across 6 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
MS
36 of 42 contests · 4 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
31
9 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
42 entries · 0 wins · 16 calls
Strongest meat
Chicken
averages 168.85 · weakest Brisket (165.36)
Walk rate
60%
a top-10 call in 25 of 42 contests
Overall top-10 rate
26%
11 of 42 contests
Best top-10 run
4
straight contests
Master average
668.68
out of 720 · 42 contests · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
703
917–727 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
6,384
42 mapped stops · furthest 194 mi
Schedule strength
1542
average field rating faced — tougher than 31% of rated contests
Power rating
1558
peak 1589 · #1593 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score653.1428 Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel
- First call Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge
- First category win (Pork Ribs) Roast n' Boast
- First overall top-10 Roast n' Boast
- Career-best overall score687.3484 Roast n' Boast
- 2014
- 10th tracked contest 'Que at the View
- First overall podium Roast N' Boast
- 2015
- 25th tracked contest Variety Children's Charity BBQ Bash
- Peak power rating (1589) Desoto Shrine Club 7th Annual 2015 BBQ Cook Off
- 2016
- Career-best single call (Pork)179.4400 The Desoto Shrine Club 8th Annual BBQ Cook Off
- 2018
- Most recent contest Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +12.6 | Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown | 2013-09-27 |
| +11.7 | Roast n' Boast | 2013-08-23 |
| +10.6 | Roast N' Boast | 2014-10-17 |
| +9.3 | Stand By Your Grill | 2013-08-16 |
| +8.9 | Country Pleasin Grillin & Chillin BBQ Classic | 2014-11-07 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -9.3 | Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off | 2017-06-16 |
| -8.2 | 'Que at the View | 2016-04-08 |
| -7.4 | Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge | 2014-05-02 |
| -7.1 | Roast N Boast BBQ | 2016-09-30 |
| -6.5 | *Roast N Boast BBQ | 2017-10-06 |
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 51% | 93.4% | 93.4% |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50% | top 56% | 94.2% | 91.9% |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33% | top 56% | 94.8% | 92.2% |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70% | top 47% | 94.4% | 92.8% |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 73% | top 36% | 95.2% | 93.7% |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 63% | top 34% | 95.5% | 93.1% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-15 | Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off Hernado, MS | 23 / 45 (672.4456) | 32 (165.7028) | 13 (171.9772) | 24 (168.5256) | 25 (166.2400) |
| 2017-10-06 | *Roast N Boast BBQ Columbus, MS | 17 / 25 (653.5424) | 23 (158.2056) | 18 (162.2856) | 11 (170.8228) | 13 (162.2284) |
| 2017-09-16 | *Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY2) (JUDGES LIST FULL) Ridgeland, MS | 7 / 17 (678.1944) | 10 (169.1316) | 5 (171.4172) | 4 (173.1200) | 12 (164.5256) |
| 2017-09-15 | *Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 1) (JUDGES LIST FULL) Ridgeland, MS | 13 / 22 (659.2568) | 13 (164.5256) | 17 (160.5028) | 12 (165.7028) | 7 (168.5256) |
| 2017-06-16 | Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off Nesbit, MS | 32 / 41 (651.8512) | 37 (155.9772) | 25 (166.8228) | 32 (162.8000) | 20 (166.2512) |
| 2017-03-31 | *Jack Town Throw Down Jackson, MS | 19 / 34 (658.7768) | 13 (169.1428) | 23 (162.8800) | 16 (166.2284) | 25 (160.5256) |
| 2017-02-24 | *Bud & BBQ (JUDGING IS FULL) Meridian, MS | 8 / 22 (669.6460) | 12 (166.8572) | 15 (162.8228) | 8 (171.9772) | 9 (167.9888) |
| 2016-10-07 | Downtown BBQ Throwdown Hattiesburg, MS | 10 / 26 (657.5656) | 13 (162.8344) | 12 (162.8000) | 12 (166.8228) | 12 (165.1084) |
| 2016-09-30 | Roast N Boast BBQ Columbus, MS | 19 / 27 (666.1828) | 23 (164.5372) | 10 (171.9884) | 24 (161.6456) | 16 (168.0116) |
| 2016-06-17 | The Desoto Shrine Club 8th Annual BBQ Cook Off Hernando, MS | 16 / 41 (682.2744) | 23 (168.0000) | 10 (174.8572) | 1 (179.4400) | 35 (159.9772) |
| 2016-05-13 | Mississippi Springfest BBQ Contest Ashland, MS | 13 / 26 (673.5424) | 13 (170.8228) | 16 (164.5256) | 13 (170.8228) | 15 (167.3712) |
| 2016-04-08 | 'Que at the View Gulfport, MS | 32 / 43 (654.1140) | 37 (156.5028) | 12 (169.7028) | 13 (169.6684) | 33 (158.2400) |
| 2016-03-18 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 Tupelo, MS | 63 / 95 (648.3772) | 32 (170.8344) | 84 (154.2172) | 25 (170.8228) | 82 (152.5028) |
| 2015-10-09 | Downtown BBQ Showdown Hattiesburg, MS | 15 / 26 (661.6456) | 17 (166.3200) | 9 (170.2628) | 11 (168.5256) | 18 (156.5372) |
| 2015-10-02 | Roast N' Boast Columbus, MS | 13 / 26 (659.8852) | 7 (170.2628) | 12 (167.4056) | 18 (159.3940) | 17 (162.8228) |
| 2015-09-25 | Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown Vidalia, LA | 19 / 45 (671.8740) | 12 (170.8112) | 24 (165.1316) | 29 (166.8228) | 18 (169.1084) |
| 2015-06-19 | Desoto Shrine Club 7th Annual 2015 BBQ Cook Off Hernando, MS | 15 / 37 (672.9940) | 10 (173.1084) | 28 (159.3944) | 14 (169.6684) | 10 (170.8228) |
| 2015-06-05 | Variety Children's Charity BBQ Bash Memphis, TN | 10 / 27 (679.9312) | 12 (170.8228) | 16 (164.5256) | 10 (171.4284) | 8 (173.1544) |
| 2015-05-29 | Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Festival Brookhaven, MS | 15 / 31 (655.9312) | 2 (175.4288) | 10 (170.8456) | 20 (158.8228) | 27 (150.8340) |
| 2015-05-08 | Mississippi Springfest BBQ Contest Ashland, MS | 14 / 31 (677.0856) | 19 (166.2400) | 14 (167.9884) | 17 (169.1200) | 5 (173.7372) |
| 2015-05-01 | George County Firefighters Association BBQ Challenge Lucedale, MS | 12 / 27 (675.9084) | 13 (168.5484) | 12 (169.1200) | 22 (163.9540) | 4 (174.2860) |
| 2015-04-03 | 'Que at the View Gulfport, MS | 25 / 40 (662.1256) | 12 (171.4056) | 27 (163.9544) | 33 (162.2400) | 25 (164.5256) |
| 2015-03-13 | Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel Tupelo, MS | 44 / 94 (660.9712) | 77 (161.0856) | 27 (167.9772) | 57 (162.8000) | 29 (169.1084) |
| 2014-11-07 | Country Pleasin Grillin & Chillin BBQ Classic Florence, MS | 7 / 29 (681.6572) | 5 (175.4172) | 12 (167.9772) | 9 (169.6684) | 13 (168.5944) |
| 2014-10-17 | Roast N' Boast Columbus, MS | 3 / 25 (685.6456) | 5 (170.8572) | 2 (173.1084) | 3 (174.2628) | 7 (167.4172) |
| 2014-10-03 | Downtown BBQ Showdown Hattiesburg, MS | 7 / 27 (682.7656) | 7 (171.9888) | 7 (171.4056) | 12 (167.9656) | 7 (171.4056) |
| 2014-09-26 | The Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown Vidalia, LA | 7 / 31 (685.6228) | 3 (175.4172) | 5 (173.1200) | 10 (167.9656) | 10 (169.1200) |
| 2014-09-12 | Bama Brew & Que Tuscaloosa, AL | 12 / 26 (674.2172) | 10 (169.7028) | 8 (170.2744) | 15 (166.8344) | 11 (167.4056) |
| 2014-08-15 | Stand By Your Grill Fulton, MS | 42 / 65 (658.1368) | 35 (167.4056) | 17 (171.4056) | 63 (150.8000) | 28 (168.5256) |
| 2014-06-20 | The Desoto Shrine Club 6th Annual 2014 BBQ Cook Off Hernando, MS | 16 / 49 (680.0116) | 22 (168.5600) | 17 (168.5488) | 22 (168.5828) | 14 (174.3200) |
| 2014-05-09 | Mississippi Springfest Ashland, MS | 11 / 23 (664.5488) | 3 (172.0116) | 13 (160.5716) | 2 (176.5600) | 17 (155.4056) |
| 2014-05-02 | Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge Brandon, MS | 28 / 40 (658.1712) | 30 (165.6800) | 29 (161.6800) | 18 (165.7028) | 24 (165.1084) |
| 2014-04-04 | 'Que at the View Gulfport, MS | 8 / 36 (677.6228) | 6 (173.7144) | 2 (174.8572) | 16 (167.4056) | 20 (161.6456) |
| 2014-03-14 | Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel Benefiting Link Centre Tupelo, MS | 27 / 95 (669.6228) | 3 (178.2972) | 36 (165.1200) | 59 (163.9428) | 47 (162.2628) |
| 2013-09-27 | Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown Vidalia, LA | 4 / 38 (685.1084) | 9 (171.4056) | 6 (170.8572) | 1 (176.0228) | 9 (166.8228) |
| 2013-09-20 | Smokin' Aces BBQ Festival Tunica, MS | 24 / 53 (661.0628) | 15 (169.7372) | 25 (166.8572) | 36 (162.8228) | 29 (161.6456) |
| 2013-08-23 | Roast n' Boast Columbus, MS | 4 / 27 (687.3484) | 8 (171.9656) | 1 (176.0000) | 6 (171.9656) | 11 (167.4172) |
| 2013-08-16 | Stand By Your Grill Fulton, MS | 15 / 62 (677.6112) | 29 (168.0000) | 43 (162.8000) | 5 (174.8456) | 17 (171.9656) |
| 2013-06-14 | The Desoto Shrine Club 5th Annual 2013 BBQ Cookoff Hernando, MS | 20 / 40 (661.7140) | 3 (176.0000) | 35 (154.8568) | 26 (161.1430) | 12 (169.7142) |
| 2013-05-31 | Variety Children's Charity BBQ Bash Memphis, TN | 19 / 43 (670.2856) | 19 (166.2858) | 14 (169.1428) | 27 (166.2858) | 14 (168.5712) |
| 2013-05-03 | Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge Brandon, MS | 11 / 31 (666.2856) | 8 (171.4286) | 14 (166.2858) | 9 (169.7142) | 26 (158.8570) |
| 2013-03-15 | Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel Tupelo, MS | 50 / 100 (653.1428) | 17 (170.8572) | 61 (161.1428) | 35 (164.5714) | 72 (156.5714) |
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 | #1894 (70 pts) | #2012 (60 pts) | #1614 (120 pts) | #1997 (65 pts) | #1990 (60 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #614 (635 pts) | #702 (575 pts) | #707 (565 pts) | #538 (730 pts) | #615 (645 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #700 (544 pts) | #813 (474 pts) | #620 (659 pts) | #548 (749 pts) | #769 (494 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #374 (993 pts) | #255 (1263 pts) | #386 (953 pts) | #433 (873 pts) | #309 (1113 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #267 (1265 pts) | #174 (1515 pts) | #214 (1410 pts) | #244 (1275 pts) | #337 (1070 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #305 (1009 pts) | #257 (1099 pts) | #311 (979 pts) | #268 (1079 pts) | #375 (844 pts) |