HOT | NOT

HOT: TEXAS'S TEAM

Houston, you no longer have a problem. The Texans (10--3) clinched a playoff spot—the first in the franchise's 10-year history—with a 20--19 win over Cincy. Matt Schaub? Matt Leinart? Who needs 'em. Rookie QB T.J. Yates is 3--0 since taking over.

NOT: AW, C'MON, MAN ...

The Premier League's top two teams, No. 1 Man City and No. 2 Man U, were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 32. A U.S. translation: Imagine two 1-seeds losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

HOT: 'CUSE CUTS LOOSE

Syracuse has had its off-court troubles this year, but an 85--50 whupping of George Washington last Saturday pushed the No. 1 Orange to 10--0 for the third consecutive season. Want an MVP? Try the D. Its 123 steals lead the nation.

NOT: TAMPA DAZE

The Bucs' 41--14 meltdown in Jacksonville was their seventh straight loss after a 4--2 start. The problem? There are plenty, but let's start here: Tampa is giving up 9.1 yards per touch in the first half of games, the worst average in NFL history.

HOT: COME FLY WITH ME

With 39 points through Sunday, Philadelphia center Claude Giroux leads the NHL in scoring, while the Flyers (18-7-3, with five straight victories) are first in goals (101) and lead the league with 6.04 assists per game.

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DAVID KOHL/AP (YATES)

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MATTHEW PETERS/MAN UTD/GETTY IMAGES (MAN U)

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MARK L. BAER/US PRESSWIRE (SYRACUSE)

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KIM KLEMENT/US PRESSWIRE (TAMPA)

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JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES (GIROUX)