As Coach Bill Belichick makes his debut for the North Carolina Tar Heels, they are set to face off against the TCU Horned Frogs in the final college football game of Week 1 on Monday night. Belichick, known for his remarkable 302-165 coaching record in the NFL including a successful tenure with the New England Patriots, will bring his expertise to the collegiate level.

The Horned Frogs ended the previous season with a 9-4 record, finishing fifth in the Big 12 with a 6-3 mark. They were strong on the road, boasting a 4-2 record. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels had a less impressive 6-7 record and tied for 10th in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. The all-time series between these teams is in favor of North Carolina at 3-0, although the teams haven’t clashed since 1997. Currently, TCU is favored by 3.5 points, with the total points set at 55.5.

Before making any decisions regarding the North Carolina vs. TCU matchup, check out insights from SportsLine’s expert Mike Tierney, who achieved a highly successful last season, finishing 62-41 in picks. Tierney has been particularly effective in betting involving North Carolina, boasting a record of 12-2 in his last 14 picks.

Players to Watch

• Josh Hoover, TCU’s starting quarterback, had an impressive performance last season, completing 66.5% of his passes and throwing for 3,949 yards and 27 touchdowns along with 11 interceptions.
• Eric McAlister was a top receiver for TCU, with significant contributions last season.

On the opposite side, *Gio Lopez, formerly of South Alabama, will lead the Tar Heels. He also boasts impressive statistics, throwing over 3,000 yards with 22 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in two seasons.

The game set to showcase top-level talent and coaching is anticipated to draw considerable attention. To see which team Tierney and other experts advise backing, and explore betting options including spreads, total points, and money lines, visit SportsLine.