Got American Football Fever? Go, College, Rah! But book your trip to the USA well before the season starts. Story – Holiday Goddess Editor Vicki Arkoff

Fans of American football (you heard me, football, not soccer) love the pigskin game passionately, but not many can afford to jet around the U.S. to faithfully follow their favorite teams and share in the pre-game tailgating ritual of grilling elaborate feasts/beerfests in flatbed trucks in stadium parking lots. With pro game ticket prices in the ionosphere, what’s a cash-strapped gridiron groupie to do?

Go to college, says Nicole Hockin, Hotel.com’s smart travel expert. That’s where the purest form of the game is played – on University campuses across the US, not at over-priced, commercially-sponsored pro stadiums.         It’s also where the team spirit and football culture is strongest, and, let’s face it: it’s where the best young players in the game are reaching their potential. Here are Hockin’s best bet tips for fantastic football getaways that stretch your dollar and provide memorable scenic side-trips along the way:

• September and October are great months to catch a game in the Northeastern U.S. in cities such as Boston, Massachusetts. With Boston College and the University of Massachusetts nearby, take some time to explore historic Freedom Trail and view the gorgeous fall foliage.
• If you’ve never experienced college football in the South, find a weekend to immerse yourself in the tradition and celebration that is predominantly the Southeastern Conference, the beloved college athletic organization. Consider the University of Mississippi, in Oxford (affectionately known as “Ole Miss,” it’s the campus featured so reverently in the Sandra Bullock film The Blind Side.
• Also consider – the University of Georgia in Athens,  Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the University of Alabama in Huntsville .
• The crispness of fall is a bit more tolerable out west in places such as Phoenix, Arizona. Consider Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe to watch Arizona State University’s team — there you can still wear shorts instead of that snowsuit you’ve been eyeing.
• If you want to join 103,000 fans in the world’s largest sing-along then head to Knoxville, Tennessee for a few hundred rounds of “Rocky Top” in the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium, located on the banks of the Tennessee River. Gatlinburg is another nearby city and worth a stay to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Home of the College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend, Indiana is a great spot to pay homage to the legends of NCAA football and where a walk around the Notre Dame campus is a lesson in football history itself. Chicago, Illinois is an easy drive from South Bend so consider accommodations there and drive over for the game.
• The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas is home to the annual Red River Shootout rivalry game played between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. It nicely coincides with the U.S.A.’s largest state fair, the State Fair of Texas. And take it from someone who’s been there — they can fry just about anything [Ed’s note: that includes artery-clogging deep-fried Twinkies, butter & beer, y’all] so get ready for some fun fair food and a lot of true American entertainment at a low price.

And, of course, no true football fan could ever forget The Rose Bowl Tournament in Pasadena, California  Considered “the granddaddy of them all,” it’s held every New Year’s Day at 1:30 p.m. following the Rose Parade, and features an exciting match-up between two of the top teams in the nation. Not only is it a fierce battle on the field, it takes a fierce effort (and a lot of cash) to secure tickets, hotel rooms, and reserved Rose Parade route seats. But boy, oh boy, is it a never-to-be-forgotten scene.

So plan ahead, Holiday Goddesses, and remember to take advantage of National Collegiate Athletic Association discount fares offered by many airlines near top college football towns. “Sign up for the deal emails and act quickly when you see the flight you want,” says Hockin. “Seats and fares are limited.”