Well, Week 3 is in the books, and each week we get a little closer to finding out who the people say has the best pork ribs in Texas. This past week was, once again, in some cases, a battle to the very end.
As we move into the Elite 8, we will be watching some outstanding matchups with maybe even a shift change in voting. As we start to get a more state wide interest in the names still in the contest.
Once again, the Central Texas Region received more votes than all the other regions combined, and with those votes comes a unique matchup in the mix. We are about to see the story of the New Kid on the Block vs. Establishment and Tradition play out in a way that could shock everyone.
However, first at the top of the bracket, the #1 seed, Schoepf’s BBQ, bowed out to Snow’s BBQ in a hard-fought battle. At the other end of the bracket, two businesses from opposite sides of the river faced off as Rockdale’s 7 Bar Barbecue took on Cameron’s Hecho En Texas Barbeque. Hecho En Texas Barbeque winning out by continuing it’s march by receiving more votes than anyone else in the entire field.
So this week, Hecho En Texas Barbeque will face off against Snow’s BBQ in what could produce the highest vote total of the entire tournament. I think this one could be the race that eventually gives us one half of the Championship game based on vote totals so far.
North Region
In the North Region, at the top of the bracket, Zavala’s Barbecue defeated Evie Mae’s with a strong voter turnout on the very first day of voting.
In the lower half of the bracket, the #2 seed, Panther City BBQ, took care of business by got out early against Cattleack Barbeque and from there on it was smooth sailing across the finish line.
However, this week’s matchup between Zavala’s Barbecue and Panther City BBQ could very well be a battle that lasts until the final day of voting.
East Region
In the East Region, the two establishment barbecue joints jumped out fast, and both carried the week with very strong voter turnout.
At the top of the bracket, Bar-A BBQ fell to 1775 Texas Pit BBQ, with the College Station team posting fairly consistent voting for four straight days.
In the lower half of the bracket, Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue & Steakhouse got off to a strong start by defeating Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q of Spring. Wade and Kathy finished with a vote total that came just shy of equaling the combined total of all three of their competitors this week.
This week’s matchup between 1775 Texas Pit BBQ and Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue & Steakhouse will almost certainly be a Sunday night battle right down to the end.
Southwest Region
Finally, in the Southwest Region, once again the #1 seed fell as Burnt Bean Co. was defeated by its cross-town competitor, Schulze’s Pit Room, with both restaurants calling Seguin home.
In the other bracket, 2M Smokehouse of San Antonio defeated GW’s BBQ of San Juan. However, both competitors had been posting very consistent voting numbers over the previous two weeks, so there were really no indicators before Wednesday as to how that matchup would play out.
That makes this week’s matchup between Schulze’s Pit Room and 2M Smokehouse one of the most unpredictable contests in the tournament.
Overall voting through the first three weeks has been remarkably consistent. Each week, the strongest voter turnout begins early in the week and gradually tapers off as the weekend approaches.
Of course, those are just the numbers, but perhaps they are also food for thought for competitors as they encourage their customers to help increase voter turnout.
We are down to the Elite 8, so get out there and vote to help your favorite rib joint earn a spot in the Final Four. Let’s see who can claim, the Best Pork Ribs in Texas.
The Texas Barbecue People’s Choice Awards is officially launched! Cast your votes and do not forget to subscribe below.
Note: Anyone in the world can vote. If you have visited any BBQ location in Texas and have an opinion on who is the best, your vote counts.
