EVANSTON - Michigan coach Lloyd Carr often sounds like a broken record when discussing the keys to the game. Inevitably, Carr mentions turnovers - whether it's after a win or a loss - as one of the reasons for the outcome. Even after Michigan's season-opening win over Northern Illinois, a team that no one thought had a chance against Michigan - Carr said, "Obviously, turnovers were the key."

Maybe it's time to start listening to him. Because coming into Saturday's game at Northwestern, the Wolverines had lost just one game, against Minnesota, in which they had won the turnover battle.

In five wins, the Wolverines had forced 12 turnovers while coughing up the ball just five times.

In three losses it had been the opposite: three turnovers forced by the defense, four made by the offense.

"If you win the turnover battle, then your chances of winning are sky high," cornerback Leon Hall said after Saturday's win.

Against Northwestern, the Wolverines actually lost the turnover battle 4-3. But Michigan's turnovers seemed to come at opportune moments.

Hall actually had one of the most timely turnovers of the game - just six minutes in. Michigan had scored on a nine-play drive to open the game, and it looked as if Northwestern would follow suit. The Wildcats, who started their first drive of the game on the 35-yard line, had made it down to the Michigan 13 in just four plays. On second-and-three, freshman running back Tyrell Sutton took the handoff and went to his left, where he was met with a lot of traffic. Hall saw Sutton and made a hit that knocked the ball loose.

And he didn't stop there. The junior cornerback picked up the fumble and took it 83 yards to the house. So instead of allowing Northwestern - or the Evanston fans - to creep back into the game, Michigan took control, going up 14-0 early in the first quarter. The touchdown was Hall's first career defensive touchdown but not the first of his career. He returned a punt for touchdown last year against Indiana.

Northwestern quarterback Brett Basanez, who had thrown just one interception in 265 attempts this season, threw two interceptions against Michigan. Fifth-year senior Grant Mason made a diving catch for one pick and freshman free safety Brandon Harrison stepped in front of the other - although Harrison fumbled the ball while trying to return it.

"I just made two bad reads, two bad throws, and obviously it cost me," Basanez said.

But Michigan wasn't flawless either. Henne threw three interceptions of his own - the most he's had in a game since coming to Michigan.

But one of interceptions was on a Hail Mary pass to end the first half, and the other one was negated when Basanez threw an interception just three plays later. At the end of the game, it was clear that turnovers helped Michigan a lot more than they hurt.

For the game, Michigan got 10 points off turnovers while Northwestern left the field with none.

If at first you don't succeed: With three minutes left in the first half, the Michigan offense missed an easy opportunity from Northwestern's 10-yard line. Junior Will Paul, who at the beginning of the season converted from defensive line to fullback, ran out into the flat for a pass. There were no defenders around Paul, but he dropped the potential touchdown pass.

On second down, instead of getting discouraged, Michigan ran the same play again, this time with tight end Mike Massey lining up in Paul's spot in the backfield. Massey wasn't the first read, but Northwestern left the play wide open yet again.

"It was open, and they hadn't been able cover it, so I think we went back to it," Massey said. "It couldn't have been easier. I caught the ball, turned around and the end zone was right there."

The touchdown was Massey's first at Michigan.

Notes: Michigan equipment manager Jon Falk, who broke his leg last week against Iowa and had surgery on Monday, missed his first Michigan football game since 1974. Falk had worked 384 consecutive games at Michigan - and 445 consecutive games in his career. Carr said that Falk's surgery went well, but added that he has a lot of rehab to do. The Michigan captains gave Falk the game ball. - Michigan's win wraps up the team's conference road schedule. The Wolverines finished the year 3-1 on the road in the Big Ten after losing their road opener to Wisconsin on Sept. 24. - Place kicker Garrett Rivas made four field goals - tying a career-high. Rivas hit field goals of 19, 26, 28 and 38 yards.