North Carolina dismissed OC Freddie Kitchens and special teams coach Mike Priefer after a 4-8 season under Bill Belichick. Betting impact: expect UNC to be priced as underdogs with lower game totals (lean UNDER), avoid UNC offensive props, and treat special-teams props as higher-risk due to late-season miscues and fake-kick vulnerabilities.
Belichick Moves to Overhaul Staff After 4-8 Season
North Carolina announced that offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will not return next season following a 4-8 campaign that marked Bill Belichick's college coaching debut. The decision comes after a season of offensive struggles and notable special-teams breakdowns.
Offense Struggles Prompt Change
UNC's offense finished among the nation's worst, ranking 119th in FBS scoring at 19.3 points per game and 129th in total offense with 288.8 yards per game. Those numbers underpinned the move to replace the offensive play-caller after another underwhelming season.
Special Teams Failures Defined Close Losses
Special-teams miscues were decisive late in the year. Duke ran a successful fake field goal that set up a game-winning touchdown, and NC State converted a fake punt for a first down in a subsequent game. Those breakdowns highlighted a vulnerability that contributed directly to losses.
Coaching Backgrounds
Kitchens, who coached the Cleveland Browns in 2019, joined the Tar Heels in 2023 and served as interim coach for the Fenway Bowl at the end of the 2024 season. Priefer, a longtime NFL special-teams coach, followed Belichick to Chapel Hill but lasted just one season on the job.
Belichick's Statement
"We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes," Belichick said. "We wish them both nothing but the best in their future endeavors."
Betting Implications and What Punters Should Consider
With UNC's offense ranking near the bottom nationally and special teams showing late-season volatility, expect sportsbooks to price North Carolina as underdogs in many matchups and push game totals lower. Punters should consider leaning toward UNDERs on totals in UNC games, avoid season-long offensive props for UNC players until a new coordinator is hired, and treat special-teams props (field-goal/return markets) as higher-risk. Lines could shift again once replacements are announced, so monitor staffing news before placing futures or player-prop bets.
The Playbook: Shadow Reports, lineup locks for Week 15
North Carolina is making its first changes in the wake of coach Bill Belichick's 4-8 debut season, firing offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, sources told ESPN.
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