North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels betting preview: Odds, predictions for Bill Belichick’s debut season
The Bill Belichick Era at North Carolina begins on Monday, Sept. 1, with a showdown with TCU.
It is anybody’s guess how UNC’s gamble, hiring the six-time Super Bowl champion to coach in the college ranks for the first time, will work out, but it should be entertaining.
As for the betting market, it is skeptical that Belichick will be able to find success with the Tar Heels in Year 1.
The Tar Heels are 35/1 outsiders to win the ACC, and they’re win total currently sits at 7.5 with heavy juice on the under.
According to BetMGM, UNC was the third-most bet under team (behind Colorado and Michigan) at their sportsbook this summer.
North Carolina Tar Heels 2025 odds
| National Title Odds | Odds to win ACC | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|
| 400/1 | 35/1 | 7.5 (+140/-170) |
As you’d expect, sportsbooks did slash UNC’s numbers across the board when it was announced that Belichick would take over the program.
Oftentimes, a high-profile move, like Belichick’s hire, follows a similar pattern with the bookies. They immediately cut the team’s odds to protect themselves against an onslaught of excitable bettors piling in, and then sharp money will buy back against that move, which eventually pushes the number into the appropriate range.
The reasons for skepticism are pretty obvious. The Tar Heels finished 6-7 last season and have undergone a massive amount of change both on the field and off, and nobody has any idea if Belichick can coach at this level. It could be a gimmick.
Or, it could work.
The reasons for optimism are also pretty obvious. Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion, and will go down as one of the best coaches in the history of the sport. There’s every chance that he can bring what worked with the New England Patriots with him to Chapel Hill.
Belichick could also have found a diamond in the rough with quarterback Gio Lopez.
The late transfer from South Alabama was superb in 2024, accounting for 25 touchdowns (18 passing, seven rushing), and throwing for 2,559 yards.
If Lopez brings those numbers with him to UNC, the offense should buzz, and then it will be up to Belichick and his son, Steve, to get the defense up to speed.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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