PBR Power Rankings

PBR Bull Power Rankings: March 2011

The PBR Bull of the Year race is already heating up as the first two months of the 2011 season is in the books. The bulls are obviously half the story in bull riding, and there have been plenty of great ones so far this year. I’ve put together a power rankings through the first two months of the season. There really isn’t any debate with the top two, but opinions may differ after that. If you have anything to add, please comment below or email me at: [email protected]. Also, please feel free to visit the Facebook page if you haven’t already. Enjoy!

1. Bushwacker- Julio Moreno/Richard Oliveira
There isn’t much to say about Bushwacker that hasn’t already been said. He is the rankest bull to come along in quite awhile, and he has undoubtedly been the best in the PBR in 2011. He has been out four times on the Built Ford Tough Series this season, and he is unridden with an average bull score of 46.88 points. In addition, Bushwacker’s average buckoff time is an astounding 2.63 seconds, and the four riders he has dominated are Austin Meier, J.B. Mauney, Mike Lee, and Robson Palermo. That pretty much says it all.

2. I’m A Gangster- Jeff Robinson/Cappello
Bushwacker is the clear choice for number one, and I’m A Gangster is definitely the clear choice for number two on the list. In four BFTS trips this season, he is unridden with an average bull score of 46.06 points. His average buckoff time in 2011 is 2.14 seconds which is actually more impressive than Bushwacker, and he has bucked off top-10 guys J.B. Mauney and Paulo Lima. I’m A Gangster has been a great bull for three or four years, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

3. Smack Down- Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Struve/Rosen
Smackdown gets overlooked a little, but he has quietly put together a very solid 2011 season so far. He has been out five times on the BFTS this season, and his average bull score is 44.94 points. He has been ridden just once, and that was worth 90 points. In a great pen of bulls at the Iron Cowboy Invitational a couple weeks ago, he was one of the bulls that really stood out. He dominated Valdiron de Oliveira, and that says a lot about how good he is. Smack Down could be a sleeper in this year’s PBR Bull of the Year race.

4. Super Duty- Jeff Robinson/Katich/Pinnacle Bull Group
Super Duty, formerly known as Major Payne, is having another great season on the Built Ford Tough Series. He is hauled as much as any other bull in the PBR, and he is still getting the job done on a regular basis. In five BFTS outs in 2011, he has an average bull score of 44.95 points. He has been ridden twice this season, and the average ride score is 90.88 points. Super Duty seemed to pull up a little gimpy this past weekend in St. Louis, and hopefully it’s nothing serious. If all is well, he will be well on his way to being a finalist for Bull of the Year.

5. Crosswired- D&H Cattle Company/Clifton Wiggins
Crosswired has been around for a few years, and he was very successful as a three and four-year old. After struggling at times in 2010, he has really been on top of his game in 2011. In three BFTS outs this season, his average bull score is 45 points. He has been ridden twice this year, and the average ride score is 91.75 points. Crosswired may not have some of the extra-rank trips he used to have, but it looks like he is going to be much more consistent moving forward. That will keep him on this list for awhile.

6. Perfect Poison- Boyd/Floyd Bull Company
Perfect Poison is a bull I didn’t like much in 2010, but he has really become more consistent in 2011. He has only been out twice on the BFTS, but he is unridden with an average bull score of 45.13 points. He was strong in Arlington a couple weeks ago, but he was extremely rank in Oklahoma City last month. Perfect Poison may not get as many outs as some of the others on this list, but if he keeps bucking like he has so far this season, he will be a surprise contender for Bull of the Year.

7. Priceless- D&H Cattle Company/L&E Bulls
Priceless had a decent 2010 season as a four-year old, but he has really stepped things up a notch in 2011. He has four BFTS trips so far this season, and his average bull score is 44.56 points. He has been ridden twice, and Robson Palermo (91 points) and Guilherme Marchi (90.5 points) were the two guys who rode him. I still don’t think fans have seen the best Priceless has to offer, and if that’s the case, he will continue to move up this list as the season progresses.

8. Cooper Tires Wild & Out- Dakota Rodeo/Clay Struve/Box K Cattle Company
Cooper Tires Wild & Out has quietly put together a very strong and consistent season on the Built Ford Tough Series. He has five BFTS trips in 2011, and he has an average bull score of 44.4 points. He has been ridden only once this year, and that was by Austin Meier (90 points) this past weekend. He had some off trips in 2010, but he has been marked at least 44.25 points in every trip this season. This bull doesn’t have what it takes to be a true contender for PBR Bull of the Year, but he should be a consistent in the power rankings this year.

9. Carrillo Cartel- 4C’s/Sills/HD Bucking Bulls
Carrillo Cartel has been a constant on the Built Ford Tough Series since 2008, and he continues to buck extremely well three years later. He has been out three times so far in 2011, and he has an average bull score of 44.42 points. He has been ridden all three times, and the average ride score is 91.17 points. Colby Yates made one of the best rides of the season on this bull in Arlington (92.25 points), and that’s what most people will remember him for this year. Hopefully he continues to impress the rest of the season.

10. After Party- Circle T Ranch & Rodeo
After Party was the 2010 PRCA Bull of the Year, and he has been a great new addition to the PBR in 2011. He has four BFTS trips so far this season, and his average bull score is 44.44 points. He has been ridden once, and that was by Guilherme Marchi this past weekend in St. Louis (90.25 points). I’m excited to see After Party the rest of the season, and it will be interesting to see how he bucks after being ridden by Marchi. I fully expect him to bounce back and buck a lot of guys off.

The Next Five: Chicken on a Chain, RMEF Gunpowder & Lead, Pure Smoke, Yellow Jacket Jr., Bad Moon.

Photo Credit: Chad Sattler (Flickr)

PBR Bull Power Rankings: August 2010

Jan. 10, 2010 - New ork, New ork, United States - Professional Bull Riders at Madison Square Garden, NC.Januar 10, 2010.Photos b , Photos Inc 2010.K63959SMO. © Red Carpet Pictures

The PBR Built Ford Tough Series is back in the swing of things after the long summer break. A lot of people will be focused on what will be one of the most exciting World Title races in the history, but don’t forget about the other half of the ride. The bulls of the PBR are some of the rankest in the world. Voodoo Child has clearly been the best so far in 2010, but it gets pretty competitive after him. Things could change a lot over the next month because most of the contenders will be out a couple times, but here is how I see the top 10 right now. If you have anything to add, please comment below or send me an email at: [email protected]. Enjoy!

10. Braveheart
Judd Leffew has a present and future star in Braveheart. This bull has only three outs on the BFTS in 2010, but one of those scores was a 47 in Fresno. That’s one of the highest bull scores of the season, and there will probably be more of that in the near future. In total, the average bull score for Braveheart is 45.17 points this year. If he gets a few more outs and gets enough votes from the riders, he could be a huge factor in Vegas. This animal has the “wow” factor most don’t have.

9. Carrillo Cartel
Carrillo Cartel doesn’t get much attention, but he has quietly put together a very good season. In seven BFTS outs this year, his average bull score is 44.79 points which could easily be higher. Only Renato Nunes and Austin Meier have ridden him in 2010, and their scores were 91.25 and 91.5, respectively. This bull has become a mainstay in the short-go round. He won’t have quite enough to be the bull of the year, but he can be counted on for a score close to 45 every time out.

8. Chicken On A Chain
Before the San Antonio event, Chicken on a Chain was ranked inside my top five. After a miserable trip of 41.5 points, however, it was only fair to drop him. Nonetheless, it’s pretty remarkable to see him bucking so well after all he has been through. This bull has been all over the nation this year. In 15 BFTS outs, he has an average bull score of 44.98 points. He has been ridden five times, but the average ride score is over 91 points. Don’t sleep on the Chicken when Vegas rolls around.

7. Major Payne
Major Payne has had a couple off-trips in 2010, but when a bull has an average score of 44.92 points in 18 BFTS outs, he is going to get ranked pretty high in my book. He has been out more than any other contender for PBR Bull of the Year, and that’s pretty respectable. He has been hauled from New York all the way to Arizona and has bucked his heart out every time. The bull has been ridden twice this season, and the average ride score is 90 points. He has had a very underrated 2010 season.

6. Bushwacker
Bushwacker is the leading money winner in the 2010 ABBI Classic standings, and he will be the front-runner to win the Classic title in Vegas this year. In six BFTS outs in 2010, his average bull score is an impressive 45.38 points. He has had some really rank and honest trips, and he has also had the out-of-line trip here and there. If he ends up being a finalist for PBR Bull of the Year, watch out! He has the “it” factor to steal the show at the PBR Finals.

5. Uncle Buck
Uncle Buck is widely recognized as one of the most difficult bulls to ride in the PBR, and he has had a great 2010 season. He has been out eight times so far on the BFTS this year, and his average bull score is 45.28 points. Valdiron de Oliveira was the only man to conquer him this season, and it’s not likely many others will get the job done. As long as this bull has his honest trip, he will be over 45 points every time. If he has his junkier trip, he will have a hard time being the PBR Bull of the Year.

4. Black Pearl
Black Pearl was last year’s ABBI Classic Champion, and he has followed that with a solid 2010 season. He has been out eight times on the BFTS this year, and his average bull score is 45.22 points. He has been ridden on three occasions, but the score was over 90 points each time. This bull can be as good as any other out there if he has his day, and he should be one of the finalists for PBR Bull of the Year.

3. Spit Fire
If you are wondering who the most underrated PBR bull is, look no further than Spit Fire. He never gets any attention, but he has had a very good 2010 season. In eight BFTS trips this year, his average bull score is 45.19 points. In the last event before summer break (Pueblo), he was the top bull of the event with a 46.25 bull score. Valdiron de Oliveira is the only guy to cover him this season, and the ride score was 92.25 points. If Spit Fire has a few honest trips down the stretch, he will be a serious contender in Vegas.

2. Code Blue
Code Blue was remarkable in winning the PBR Bull of the Year award last season, and other than one bad out, he has been equally impressive in 2010. Despite the shaky second trip in Arlington, this bull still has an average bull score of 45.48 points in 11 BFTS outs. He has been marked 46 points or higher on five occasions. I’ll give him a slight pass on his bad trip in Texas because these bulls aren’t used to bucking back-to-back. And when Vegas rolls around, he will have a good shot to defend his bull of the year title.

1. Voodoo Child
It’s not very often a bull dominates the PBR Bull of the Year race, but that has happened this season. Voodoo Child has been head and shoulders above the competition. As long as he keeps bucking the way he has so far in 2010, he will win the award in Vegas. In 13 BFTS outs this year, his average bull score is a remarkable 45.94 points! L.J. Jenkins rode him in Glendale, but the score was 94 points. I thought this bull might be done a year or so ago, but he just keeps getting better and better. Voodoo Child is definitely the front-runner for PBR Bucking Bull of the Year.

The Next Five: Bones, Big Tex, White Magic, Deja Blue, Paycheck.

PBR Bull Power Rankings: March 2011

PBR Bull Power Rankings: August 2010

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