Nothing is official, but Husker fans are bowl hungry and rolling the dice. Most are betting their money on an appearance at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on New Year's Day.

Nebraska wasn’t bowl eligible last year. Fans have something to sing about now with the team 8-4 and waiting for a bowl invitation.

Scott Strunc of Husker Hounds has already made a major investment and purchased two package deals to the Gator Bowl.

"Sounds like the flights are gonna go up and up, so might as well roll the dice. I guess there’s worse places to hang out than Jacksonville, Florida on New Year’s Eve so hopefully Nebraska's there too and we'll be able to cheer them on."

Scott won’t be alone. Former Husker offensive lineman Steve Glenn with Executive Travel in Lincoln has already lined up fans heading to Jacksonville. It sold out a 137-seat flight on Monday.

"We're chartering planes to go down to the game so it looks like plane number one is full already in two hours, so that shows strong demand and especially because we don’t have all the details yet."

Triple-A Nebraska isn’t waiting on details. It has set up a chartered jet package to take fans to a party where the Huskers have yet to be invited.

"Triple-A is offering a tour package for one of our vendors, round-trip airfare to Jacksonville on Southwest Airlines, chartered plane, choice of two hotels, cost per person is approximately $1,700,” says Triple-A’s Mitch Beaumont.

Channel 6 News checked flights to Jacksonville. They start around $260 dollars for a round-trip from Kansas City, about $450 round-trip from Omaha.

Fans like the direction the team is headed. "It just seems like people feel much better about the team and the direction we're going," said Glenn.

Other travel agents agree the enthusiasm generated by first-year coach Bo Pelini and the Huskers' 8-4 record trumps the current economic uncertainty.

"When it comes to football in this state, there is no recession," said Donna Meisinger of Travel and Transport in Lincoln.

Nebraska's last trip to Florida was after the 1997 regular season when the Huskers beat Tennessee in the Orange Bowl in Miami for the national championship.

The Huskers have never played in the Gator Bowl, and Jacksonville would be a desirable destination, said AAA Nebraska spokeswoman Rose White. She said fans can make side trips to nearby Cape Canaveral, Daytona or Disney World.

If the Gator Bowl doesn't pick Nebraska, there probably would be some drop-off in interest, agents said. The Alamo Bowl in San Antonio is always popular with Nebraska fans. The Sun Bowl in El Paso probably would be less so. Agents said some fans who would fly to Florida might probably would drive to a game in Texas.

Because Nebraska's bowl hasn't been finalized, travel agencies are requiring fans to put down deposits that would be refunded to any who don't like the destination.

Glenn said he would expect to see a healthy fan turnout wherever the Huskers play. "Nebraskans feel like they got their team back now."

White said AAA's travel agency plans is offering a bowl package, but she said she doesn't expect the fan migration to approach the levels of the national championship years in the 1990s. She said AAA booked three charters and could have sold out a fourth for a couple of those Orange Bowls.

White said AAA isn't confident that it could fill a charter, so the agency will book space on commercial flights.

Miller said 80 spots have been reserved for agency's bowl package, which includes a charter flight. She said calls started coming about 10 days ago.

"Pelini has so much support right now. This feels like shades of days gone by. Everyone sees there is an upturn with Nebraska football."

Meisinger said she's received inquiries about bowl travel since late last week and fellow agents at Travel and Transport have gotten a similar number of calls.

"Just the idea of going to a bowl game for Nebraska to begin with is exciting and very encouraging, knowing what we've gone through these past couple years."