Punt Brothers from SB Nation

SB Nation's Rodger Sherman previewed nearly every team that made the NCAA tournament, but he wants you to know that doesn't mean his predictions are good or even just okay. Still, we decide to ask him about the surprises of the Sweet 16, which team from the state of North Carolina has the best chance to advance to the Final Four, and whether space travel will be commonplace before Northwestern makes the tourney. There's also a quick round of Ask Jane, covering Metallica, rivalry trophies, and ice cream.

USA Today reporter Nicole Auerbach joins us to discuss John Calipari's enterprising days as a young basketball player/landlord, which teams you should embrace and avoid in the bracket, what AARP age coach you want taking the last shot for you in a tie game, and why there's no good reason the IOC can't organize Dog Olympics. Plus, Jane and Ryan discuss their personal athletic lows and the perils of keeping Twitter open when you're watching a game through a streaming connection.

Spencer Hall, Editorial Director at SB Nation and Editor at Every Day Should Be Saturday, gives us his thoughts on how to deal with the college football offseason (playoff hockey is your friend), makes ill-advised predictions with us about the 2015 season (sorry, teams we have inevitably over or underrated), and plays a thrilling trivia game we call Florida or Tennessee? It ends with him doubting everything he knows, which is nice.

SB Nation's NBA editor Mike Prada joins us to discuss our very bad ideas to tweak the dunk contest, three point shootout, and the All-Star Game. We also look ahead to the second half stories in both the West and the East, take a moment to feel bad for Carlos Boozer, and brainstorm Valentine's Day for the busy basketball writer.

SPECIAL NOTE: This episode was recorded in a conference room, which is why it sounds like it was recorded in a conference room. Just being extremely professional, as usual.

To close out the year, we bring on Dan Rubenstein to talk favorites and not-favorites - in football, in other sports, and in the world more generally. What do we like? Late night Pac-12 madness, Johnny Weir, rookie wide receivers, and bacon-wrapped dates. What don't we like? You have to listen to find out if we picked something that will make you mad.

We missed you just as much as you missed us, so Jane and Ryan have a lengthy conversation about:

- all possible feelings related to Michigan's coaching hunt

- what a weird coaching hiring season it's been generally

- assigning each CFB Playoff team a Janet Jackson song

- of course we gave Alabama "Rhythm Nation"

- the Pro Bowl, and how it can be improved

Our look at the contenders for the final College Football Playoff spot concludes with a discussion of the Baylor Bears with Mark Seymour and the Arizona Wildcats with Kevin Zimmerman. We also get Jane's thoughts on the new Terminator trailer and Mike Riley moving to Nebraska. Is Mike Riley a T-1000? A really nice T-1000? Maybe!

A week from today, we'll know who's in the College Football Playoff's first semifinal games and who isn't. TCU's got a spot (maybe? possibly? I guess?) locked up if they can beat Iowa State, so we talk to Jamie Plunkett from Frogs O' War about how confident he is in TCU's position and what Gary Patterson will do if the Horned Frogs get left out. We also chat with Land-Grant Holy Land's Luke Zimmermann about Ohio State's chances and the inevitable dread that comes from facing Melvin Gordon.

NBA writer and old basketball player connoisseur Paul Flannery stops by to talk about the early season surprises, why we can't shut up about the Lakers, theoretical trades for Rajon Rondo, the Malice at the Palace, and some very early (and inconsequential) predictions. We also apologize for last week's college football hex. It was Jane's fault.

No guests this week because we think we're capable of talking about the Huskers, Hurricanes, Sun Devils, and a variety of other college football teams without anyone's help! (We're probably totally wrong.) Plus, there's a round of Ask Jane and we settle which compass direction is college football's best.