The new Sports Illustrated featuring Missouri Tigers quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Chase Daniel hits newsstands Thursday.

But people all over Columbia worry that this feature may actually be a jinx . . . not a help. Millions of Sports Illustrated readers believe making the cover is the kiss of death for many athletes.

Players like Nomar Garciaparra, Eric Crouch, and Ryan Leaf have all suffered the wrath of the cover jinx.

One study finds that out of 2500 SI covers, almost 1,000 of the athletes underperformed after gracing the cover.

Some see it as just superstition, but others have a scientific explanation.

"It's a property of human cognitive processes, so when you see famous people, famous athletes who are at the pinnacle of their careers appearing on the cover of sports illustrated, that sticks out in your mind," MU psychology professor Laura King said. "And then, that person fails, and that sticks out in your mind. And those two very vivid events become connected, and we start thinking of them as a jinx."

We'll find out if Chase Daniel and the Tigers can overcome the Sports Illustrated cover jinx this Saturday in San Antonio. And follow KOMU every step of the way by visiting the Chase for the Championship blog.