Bowl bound fans give Louisiana a fever

NEW ORLEANS -- Forget about Santa Claus and Tiger Woods. In Louisiana, the buzz is about bowls, from Florida superstar Tim Tebow's last bow at the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl to the New Orleans Saints' run for the Super Bowl's Pete Rozelle Trophy.

And it all begins on a sold-out weekend that's made the hospitality industry giddy. Saturday night's big draw is the Saints-Dallas Cowboys game and then on Sunday when the New Orleans Bowl brings in crowds for Southern Mississippi's game against Middle Tennessee State.

In Shreveport, the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl sold out early and fans of Georgia and Texas A&M are apparently planning to make more than a quick visit.

Less than 200 of the city's almost 10,000 hotel rooms were available for the days surrounding the game.