March Madness Bracket Breakdown, WBC Finals: Team USA vs. Italy Predictions & Best Bets | Coach and Company | March 16, 2026 |

Full Podcast Summary / Notes (with timestamps): [00:00:34] - Show Intro, Announcements & Housekeeping Mike Pendleton sits in for the Coach, shares how to follow the show, and teases a big announcement from BTT Studios. Promo codes for merch and premium member info. [00:03:42] - Monday Vibes & Panel Intro The team discusses the electric sports slate—March Madness, holidays, and wrestling. Rafael and Brandon join the show. [00:05:11] - Ronda Rousey in AEW & UFC Drama Discussion on Rousey’s AEW cameo: is she back for publicity or to spark her Gina Carano fight? Hot takes on fighter pay, TKO, and UFC’s future direction. [00:07:08] - Weekend Rewind Preview Quick mention of UFC’s overlooked Meta Apex event. [00:07:31] - Best Bets Segment Brandon: Over 10 runs Italy vs. Venezuela (WBC), Orlando Magic ML (+150). Rafael: Mavs-Pelicans 1Q Under 61.5. DG’s Pick: Josh Giddey triple-double vs. Grizzlies. Mike Pendleton: Lakers ML vs. Rockets, Team Italy over 4.5 runs. [00:11:15] - Pre-March Madness Crunch Rafael details crazy prop bet nights juggling Oscars and WBC. Panel weighs in: Is this the best week in sports? [00:15:11] - NBA Expansion News Breaking: Seattle & Las Vegas are front-runners for new NBA teams (2028-29). Would LeBron and Durant be involved? Panel loves Supersonics nostalgia. [00:18:20] - Weekend Rewind: Iconic March Moments Rafael: 28 years in the game—loves March magic. Brandon: Loyola & Sister Jean Cinderella run. Mike Pendleton: George Mason’s 2006 Final Four. [00:22:16] - World Baseball Classic Delivers Recaps Japan vs. Venezuela thriller and standout moments from Team USA. Mike Pendleton throws some Red Sox/USA shade. [00:25:44] - Lakers Complete Statement Win Deep dive into Lakers/Nuggets OT clash; is LA a real threat? Role player impact and DeAndre Ayton’s struggles addressed. [00:28:36] - MLB & WBC Fan Energy Is World Baseball Classic passion what MLB needs? Brandon thinks MLB is fine, but the WBC energy is special. [00:30:04] - March Madness Bracket Deep-Dive Are the 4 #1-seeds right? Michigan/Florida debate. Teams on upset alert: UConn, Gonzaga, Miami (OH), and more. Surprise team predictions (Purdue, VCU, Arkansas). [00:45:07] - World Baseball Classic Championship Preview Sound Bit: Aaron Judge on WBC crowds. Is the atmosphere better than the World Series? Italy vs. Venezuela: Who’s the best story? Panel unanimously sides with Team Italy as underdog darlings. Can Team USA finish the job? [00:53:21] - Final Lock-In: Best Bets Recap WBC and NBA best bets recapped. Panel picks: Both Brandon & Rafael predict Italy beats Venezuela. [00:56:11] - Closing & Plugs WBC predictions revisited; reminder for tune-ins and special BTT announcements. Thanks to the chat & community. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.