NCAA Football colorado state Rams

FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

One of the beautiful things about bowl season is that some very talented, but unknown college football stars get their moment in the spotlight. With that in mind .. America, meet Gartrell Johnson. The stocky senior running back put on an absolute show, leading Colorado State to a 40-35 come-from-behind win over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. The win was the Rams' first bowl win in seven years.

Johnson ran for a career-high 285 yards plus caught six passes for 89 -- giving him a whopping 374 total yards. Prior to Saturday, Johnson averaged 99 rushing yards per game in 2008.

Colorado State trailed 28-20 heading to the fourth quarter, but Tommie Hill intercepted Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater, swinging momentum in the Rams' favor. Johnson punched in from one yard out soon after to cut the Bulldogs' lead down to 28-26.

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, N.M.), which pits Fresno State against Colorado State.

Overview: The New Mexico Bowl is essentially a old school western-style shootout, drawing in teams from the WAC and Mountain West. Many analysts projected Nevada to land the Western Athletic's bid, but Fresno State got an offer and, at 7-5, pounced quickly. The Bulldogs, (the former team of Mittens!) will face off against, but Colorado State, the only 6-6 team in the Mountain West, appears likely as an opponent.

Hotels: Each one of the hotels we've suggested have great proximity to the stadium. Even if they weren't so close, Albuquerque is easy to navigate. Sandia Peak makes for a good directional landmark because you can see it from anywhere in town. The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque is probably the finest hotel in town. The Hilton Albuquerque is more reasonably priced, and is the best all around value for bowl travelers. The Best Western Airport Innsuites Hotel is the perfect option for those on a tight budget. Guestrooms are cheap and the property is close to the airport and the stadium.

Restaurants: A little driving may be necessary to enjoy the best food the city has to offer, but it will be well worth the trip. Albuquerque is worth exploring because of its rich culture and beautiful scenery. Scalo has a reputation for beginning the pioneer of fine dining in Albuquerque.