PRESS PICKS (Week 14): The Iron Bowl will not have a name change to the 'Voodoo' Bowl' no matter how much it's discussed
STAFF REPORT
The 90th Iron Bowl arrives with the same bravado that is usually saved for the classics. You know, games that feature teams high in the rankings with a playoff or championship on the line. Yet, as has been the case the last few years, only one of these teams is in the running for a title.
And, as usual, it’s not Auburn.
Yet, there is plenty of confidence that the Tigers can pull off the upset and the opinion of some cases, should win.
Why pick Alabama when it can’t sustain a running game? Or it has a quarterback that isn’t playing his best?
Add to it that, what makes sense is that since Alabama has been the favorite in this game at Jordan-Hare Stadium every time since 2015, many of those as a double-digit pick, and yet have endured a struggle or a loss in each.
Yeah, we hear about voodoo (thanks Nick Saban) and Indian burial grounds and the like and it makes you wonder if there is something to this lack of confidence the Crimson Tide tends to play with on a regular basis there (again, thanks Coach Saban).
So, lets take a brief look at a couple of examples and see if there is some truth to the idea that Bama is jinxed (and in some cases Auburn is, too). We’ll keep it within this century…
2007 (AU, 17-10) - Saban was introduced to the “voodoo” in his first trip to Jordan-Hare. It wasn’t a case of bad karma but bad football on the part of the Tide. There were no balls popped up in the air and returned for a score. Nothing really stood out in the officiating department and Saban didn’t mince words afterwards saying his team didn’t know how to finish, something he said all season. But nothing about a jinx, at least not publicly.
2017 (AU, 26-14) - Auburn earned a berth in the SEC Championship game. Sure, the Tide had key injuries, but this one may have stung more than others, removing Bama’s undefeated season. One could say it was a bevy of mistakes but Kerryon Johnson proved to be the difference. Jinx? No. It hurt the Tide but it still reached the national championship game and beat Georgia a little over a month later.
2019 (AU, 48-45) - OK maybe a little voodoo in this one when Bama kicker Joseph Bulovas bounced a field goal try off the upright on a 30-yard attempt. But a couple of Pick-6s thrown by Mac Jones had more to do with it.
The list could go back further but the point is, it’s not always a “kick-6” or a tipped ball play that wins it for Auburn when on the Plains. Fact is, Bama has had its share of wild finishes lately, namely 4th-and-31 or Bryce Young and the “drive” that set up an overtime win.
Upsets do happen and one might on Saturday but it will more than likely be due to better play by the Tigers than some unexplained mishap for the Tide.
As much as you want to talk about it, the game has its own version of weird without being, well, weird.
2025 Standings (Last week)
1. Michael Butler 162-48 (14-1).771
2. Graham Dunn 159-51 (13-2) .757
3. Doug Amos 152-58 (14-1) .724
4. Tim Gayle 151-59 (13-2) .719
4. Wesley Lyle 151-59 (14-1) .719
6. Mike Peacock 148-62 (13-2) .705
Barry McKnight 148-62 (11-4) .705
8. Rick Hendrick 144-66 (13-2) .685
9. Lindsey Bonner 141-69 (12-3) .674
Rosie Langello 141-69 (13-2) .674
Michael Butler (WTLS 101.1&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
162-48 (14-1).771
Reeltown at Lanett - Reeltown
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Saraland
Alabama at Auburn - Alabama
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas A&M
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida St
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
159-51 (13-2) .757
Reeltown at Lanett - Lanett
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Saraland
Alabama at Auburn - Alabama
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Tennessee
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
152-58 (14-1) .724
Reeltown at Lanett - Lanett
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Saraland
Alabama at Auburn - Auburn
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas A&M
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida St
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Tennessee
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
151-59 (13-2) .719
Reeltown at Lanett - Lanett
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Saraland
Alabama at Auburn - Alabama
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas A&M
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida St
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Tennessee
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports)
151-59 (14-1) .719
Reeltown at Lanett - Lanett
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Saraland
Alabama at Auburn - Alabama
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas A&M
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Tennessee
Missouri at Arkansas - Arkansas
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio analyst )
148-62 (13-2) .705
Reeltown at Lanett - Reeltown
Leroy at Maplesville - Leroy
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Saraland
Alabama at Auburn - Auburn
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas A&M
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida St
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Tennessee
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
148-62 (11-4) .705
Reeltown at Lanett - Lanett
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Benjamin Russell
Alabama at Auburn - Auburn
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Michigan
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
144-66 (13-2) .685
Reeltown at Lanett - Lanett
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Benjamin Russell
Alabama at Auburn - Alabama
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas A&M
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Tennessee
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina - South Carolina
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
141-69 (12-3) .674
Reeltown at Lanett - Reeltown
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Saraland
Alabama at Auburn - Alabama
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - Clemson
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
141-69 (13-2) .674
Reeltown at Lanett - Lanett
Leroy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Benjamin Russell at Saraland - Benjamin Russell
Alabama at Auburn - Alabama
Troy at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Ole Miss at Miss St (Fri) - Ole Miss
Georgia vs Ga Tech (Fri - Atlanta) - Georgia
Texas A&M at Texas (Fri) - Texas A&M
LSU at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida St at Florida - Florida
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Michigan - Ohio St
Kentucky at Louisville - Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina - Clemson