BUFFALO MEATHEADS

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

Power ranking

#2891

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1508

peak 1520 · rated over 15 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-05-25

latest 2018-09-22

Best ToY finish

#471

Master 2013

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 15 contests

Avg finish

top 50%

overall standings

Best overall

662.3428 / 720

Master · Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que

Perfect 180s

Current form

628.27 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 626.86 (+1.41)

Walk rate

67%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

170.8570

Chicken · Brockport BBQ - Music Festival

Consistency

±32.19

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 161.86 · weakest Brisket (144.41)

Road miles

781

mi across 15 mapped stops · furthest 91 mi

Schedule strength

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1513)

Master avg

626.86 / 720

15 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (5 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.

They almost always walk

67% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 10 of 15 contests

A top-10 category call in 67% of their 15 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

JUST 4 FUN BBQ has finished one call ahead of BUFFALO MEATHEADS 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

9–1 behind in the head-to-head

GOOD SMOKE BBQ ahead in 90% of their meetings

GOOD SMOKE BBQ has come out ahead in 9 of their 10 shared contests.

The weak link

−17.5 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 17.45 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 20% of the time against 33%.

Brisket avg 144.41
Chicken avg 161.86
3 calls in 15 entries

A strong matchup

8–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 80% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SMOKIN BARRELS in 8 of their 10 shared 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.

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

BIG MONEY BBQ

#2890 of the rated field

1508 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1518

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 16 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2020-06-26

⚔ Head-to-head

JUST SMOKIN' AROUND

#2893 of the rated field

1508 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1515

No shared contest yet.

16 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 13% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2017-03-31

⚔ Head-to-head

OLE MAN LARRY'S BBQ

#2898 of the rated field

1508 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1514

No shared contest yet.

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 14 contests
last seen 2018-04-27

⚔ Head-to-head

Smoke Sergeant BBQ

#2885 of the rated field

1508 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1515

No shared contest yet.

Level with BUFFALO MEATHEADS on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2026-08-21

⚔ Head-to-head

Slapshot BBQ

#2899 of the rated field

1508 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1539

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1539 at their best, 32 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 20 contests
last seen 2019-05-10

⚔ Head-to-head

JB'S SMOKESHACK

#2900 of the rated field

1508 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 35%
Peak: 1526

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 20 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 20 contests
last seen 2017-04-22

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BEHIND BBQ	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
KISS MY BBQ	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS	12	3	9	25%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' AIN'T EASY	11	6	5	55%	⚔ compare
RED VALLEY BBQ	11	6	5	55%	⚔ compare
THE 5TH ARTERY	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BARRELS	10	8	2	80%	⚔ compare
Big Pappa's Smokin' BBQ	10	7	3	70%	⚔ compare
GOOD SMOKE BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
THE GOOD CUE CREW	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
THREE DOGS BBQ	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
Sweet Heat BBQ	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
TEAM EATAPEDIA	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
Q'N CANUCKS	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
TRANQUIL CARNIVORES	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	5	1	170.8570	150.2172	161.86	top 42%
Pork Ribs	15	5	1	169.7372	144.5712	159.12	top 47%
Pork	15	8	1	169.7372	145.1200	161.48	top 36%
Brisket	15	3	0	161.6800	20.0000	144.41	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	GCs	Avg finish
NY	14	0	top 50%
PA	1	0	top 44%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 33%
Medium (20–39)	3	top 63%
Large (40+)	10	top 49%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Oinktoberfest	3	18	top 52%	2018-09-22
Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que	3	10	top 45%	2015-06-19
Roc City Rib Fest	2	23	top 47%	2016-05-28
Roc City Rib Fest	2	13	top 43%	2015-05-23

The story so far (15 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 5.3 yrs 2013-05-25 → 2018-09-22

Busiest season 2013 6 contests

Contests a season 2.5 across 6 seasons in the data

Cooks most in NY 14 of 15 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 9 4 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 15 entries · 0 wins · 5 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 161.86 · weakest Brisket (144.41)

Walk rate 67% a top-10 call in 10 of 15 contests

Overall top-10 rate 27% 4 of 15 contests

Master average 626.86 out of 720 · 15 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 261 353–316 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 781 15 mapped stops · furthest 91 mi

Schedule strength 1513 average field rating faced — tougher than 9% of rated contests

Longest layoff 1.3 yrs 2016-06-03 → 2017-09-22

Power rating 1508 peak 1520 · #2891 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
May 25 First tracked contest Roc City Rib Fest
Jun 7 First call Podunk Pig Party
Jun 7 First overall top-10 Podunk Pig Party
Jun 21 First overall past 90% of a perfect score653.1418 Brockport BBQ - Music Festival
Jun 21 Career-best single call (Chicken)170.8570 Brockport BBQ - Music Festival
Jun 21 Peak power rating (1520) Brockport BBQ - Music Festival
2014
Jun 13 Career-best overall score662.3428 Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que
2015
Jun 19 10th tracked contest Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que
2018
Sep 22 Most recent contest Oinktoberfest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+12.5	Roc City Rib Fest	2014-05-24
+9.8	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que	2014-06-13
+9.4	Brockport BBQ - Music Festival	2013-06-21
+7.1	Roc City Rib Fest	2013-05-25
+6.8	Podunk Pig Party	2013-06-07

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-16.2	Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival	2013-08-09
-10.1	Boston Hill BBQ Fest	2013-06-28
-5.3	Roc City Rib Fest	2015-05-23
-3.7	Roc City Rib Fest	2016-05-28
-2.9	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que	2013-06-14

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 61%	84.3%	84.3%
2017	1	0	0%	top 60%	86.3%	86.3%
2016	2	1	100%	top 55%	89.2%	88.5%
2015	3	0	67%	top 54%	88.8%	88%
2014	2	1	100%	top 18%	92%	91.7%
2013	6	2	67%	top 53%	90.7%	85.2%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2018-09-22	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	31 / 51 (606.7544)	27 (157.1088)	31 (153.1316)	39 (145.1200)	24 (151.3940)
2017-09-22	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	32 / 53 (621.0976)	47 (150.2172)	21 (161.7372)	23 (158.8116)	37 (150.3316)
2016-06-03	Conquer The Grill Coudersport, PA	8 / 18 (631.9200)	5 (161.1544)	14 (150.8112)	8 (158.2744)	6 (161.6800)
2016-05-28	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	33 / 50 (642.1944)	38 (157.7260)	41 (154.8228)	7 (169.6800)	28 (159.9656)
2015-09-19	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	18 / 52 (639.3712)	14 (163.9656)	25 (158.2972)	4 (166.8456)	37 (150.2628)
2015-06-19	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que Wilson, NY	27 / 47 (623.3372)	31 (155.9772)	18 (159.9656)	15 (162.8572)	38 (144.5372)
2015-05-23	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	40 / 57 (637.5656)	12 (169.7028)	8 (169.1200)	48 (154.8228)	53 (143.9200)
2014-06-13	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que Wilson, NY	10 / 47 (662.3428)	15 (166.8456)	9 (169.1772)	8 (168.6056)	24 (157.7144)
2014-05-24	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	13 / 86 (658.2972)	7 (169.7372)	26 (161.7256)	8 (168.5600)	44 (158.2744)
2013-08-09	Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival N. Tonawanda, NY	31 / 31 (522.3200)	14 (162.8456)	2 (169.7372)	3 (169.7372)	31 (20.0000)
2013-06-28	Boston Hill BBQ Fest Hamburg, NY	39 / 49 (608.5710)	23 (160.0000)	42 (146.8570)	28 (157.1428)	43 (144.5712)
2013-06-21	Brockport BBQ - Music Festival Brockport, NY	4 / 18 (653.1418)	2 (170.8570)	8 (161.7140)	5 (161.7140)	7 (158.8568)
2013-06-14	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que Wilson, NY	17 / 31 (623.9996)	6 (163.9996)	26 (144.5712)	15 (158.2860)	15 (157.1428)
2013-06-07	Podunk Pig Party Springwater, NY	7 / 20 (645.7144)	9 (164.5716)	10 (162.8570)	8 (160.0000)	10 (158.2858)
2013-05-25	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	23 / 80 (626.2856)	52 (153.1428)	16 (162.2858)	17 (161.7142)	42 (149.1428)

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)	#1996 (60 pts)	#2030 (60 pts)	#1963 (65 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#2212 (60 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#2190 (80 pts)	#2199 (70 pts)	#2266 (60 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1385 (198 pts)	#1357 (228 pts)	#1683 (158 pts)	#1137 (303 pts)	#1386 (218 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1268 (215 pts)	#1070 (300 pts)	#1069 (310 pts)	#943 (380 pts)	#1431 (180 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1079 (282 pts)	#1098 (302 pts)	#1304 (232 pts)	#1013 (337 pts)	#1660 (152 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#471 (654 pts)	#380 (814 pts)	#415 (764 pts)	#371 (834 pts)	#554 (579 pts)