Michigan, without a Big Ten win, hosts Penn State with turnovers and its QB under scrutiny

Michigan comes out of its bye week still looking for its first Big Ten win, and coach Kyle Whittingham is putting most of the blame on one number: turnover margin. The Wolverines (3-2) lost back-to-back games to Minnesota and Iowa before the break. They host Penn State (3-3) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT on CBS, and Sportsnaut reports that both teams know a loss would end their College Football Playoff hopes.

At his Monday press conference, Whittingham was asked about the offense and second-year quarterback Bryce Underwood. He answered by talking about ball security, pointing to the three turnovers in the loss at Minnesota, one of which came on special teams. "If we continue to lose the turnover margin, we will continue to lose, period," Whittingham said, according to Sportsnaut.

The scoring numbers suggest the problem goes beyond turnovers. Leaving out the UTEP game, Michigan scored 13 points against Western Michigan, 17 against Oklahoma and 19 against Iowa, all at home. It managed 14 at Minnesota in its first road game. Sportsnaut questioned whether Whittingham is shielding offensive coordinator Jason Beck or simply doesn't see that the scheme isn't producing.

Underwood is still the starter for now. Some fans want true freshman Tommy Carr to take over, and Whittingham has said no job is safe. He also tied the turnover issue directly to his quarterback, who handles the ball on every snap, and warned that "something has to give" if it isn't fixed quickly. Underwood has thrown five touchdown passes and four interceptions this season.

The offensive line may be getting help. Andrew Babalola, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound sophomore who arrived as a five-star prospect, was cleared to practice Monday for the first time in more than a month. He has yet to play a college snap after missing his freshman season with a leg injury and getting hurt again in August camp. Whittingham said several other players came out of the Minnesota game banged up and are questionable, and their statuses are due on Wednesday's injury report. Junior lineman Andrew Sprague is believed to be at risk of missing the rest of the season with an undisclosed injury.

Michigan also plans to keep using most of its "rhino" package, which puts an extra lineman on the field who is not an eligible receiver. Whittingham said the formation adds a blocker in the run game and in pass protection, but it also leaves the offense with one fewer receiving threat.

Michigan leads the all-time series 17-10 and has won the last three meetings. Despite its scoring problems, it is favored by 6.5 points in Saturday's game, and the total is 42.5. On Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, Michigan is favored at -212. The best sportsbook price on the Wolverines is -230 at FanDuel. For Penn State, the stakes are the same: the loser's playoff hopes are over.