UNC's Bill Belichick Notes Concern About Miami Star

North Carolina is set to have a primetime game on ABC on Saturday night under head coach Bill Belichick. 

But the Tar Heels will be a major underdog before they host No. 1 Miami in Week 9. 

North Carolina suffered an upset of its own in Week 8, when Syracuse defeated the Tar Heels via a two-point conversion in overtime. The loss sent UNC to 4-3 on the season.

Belichick and North Carolina will try to avoid falling to .500 on Saturday night. For UNC to have success, Belichick's defense will have to shut down (or at least limit) the No. 1 scoring offense in college football. Miami is averaging 49 points per contest.

When speaking to reporters on Monday, Belichick noted one player in particular UNC is concerned about, wide receiver Malachi Toney. Per On3, Belichick said double-teaming Toney wouldn't work because that doesn't stop the receiver from making game-breaking plays. 

Belichick pointed out that Toney knows how to beat double coverage and has used that scheme to his advantage earlier in the season.

"I don't see any weak points in his game," Belichick said.

Through seven games, Toney is the third-leading receiver in college football behind Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State (984 yards) and Jesse Legree of Oregon State (1,040 yards). Toney has caught 66 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Toney's skills have helped transfer quarterback Darian Mensah be dangerous this season. Mensah has thrown for 2,151 yards, 22 touchdowns, and one interception while adding 73 yards and two scores on the ground.

North Carolina's defense has been the bright spot on the team this year, but has had difficulty at the end of games in losses to Clemson, Notre Dame, and Syracuse. Orange quarterback Steve Angeli threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns against UNC. Syracuse added 199 yards and two scores on the ground.

One would imagine Belichick will have a plan for Miami that should keep UNC in contention. However, the Tar Heels might opt to let Toney have a big game and take away key players at other positions. Through his career, Belichick sometimes employs a strategy designed to make it so an opponent’s best player has to beat the team, while the rest of the offense is covered.

Expect Toney to have a big night against UNC. For the Tar Heels to win and pull off the biggest upset in Belichick's tenure, they'll need to defend the other 10 players on the field well.