Best Book: The Tailgater's Cookbook, David Joachim (Broadway Books). Includes preparation steps — "Before You Go," "When You Get There," and "Neighborly Tip"— for each recipe. The directions and tips explain how best to prepare the food. Also included are sample menus, most of them based on college football rivalries, as well as an equipment source index and trivia.

Best App: Tailgating (iOS). This app lays out everything you may possibly need to make sure you don’t forget any of the essentials. Save time on the planning and spend more on the partying with these intuitive checklists of tailgate essentials.

Best General Website: Created by two passionate tailgaters, Tailgater Monthly started as a printed publication and evolved into its current multi level platform with print and digital versions, e-newsletters, tailgate tours, sponsored events, custom surveying, list development and product sales. This site is for serious tailgaters who live for game day, but is just as user-friendly for rookies to the art. Visit tailgatermonthly.com

Best Website for Women: The South is stereotypically fanatical about their football, so it should be no surprise we suggest checking out Southern Living’s site for ideas ranging from fun recipes and chic tablescapes to team color-inspired fashion accessories. Southernliving.com

Best College-Age Website: Don’t let drunkentailgate.com’s name or blog-like format fool you: These guys take their tailgating seriously. With solid gear reviews, beer charts, and photo submissions (although these mostly consist of coeds chugging alcohol), the site is worth a visit.

Best Gear: Tailgating gear tends towards subjection, however, Men’s Health does a pretty fantastic rundown of all the gear you thought you’d need as well as the one’s you’d never know existed. Visit menshealth.com/techlust/tailgate-gear-0 for a slideshow.

Best Brews: Look locally for the best microbrews to celebrate your home-team. The Brewers Association allows visitors to search through their comprehensive list by state or brewery name, which is continually updated by BA staff. You'll find any brewery in the United States and US Territories known by the Brewers Association. Visit brewersassociation.org.

Best Apparel: As any respectable tailgater knows, looking the part is half the fun. Football Fanatics is the go-to site for the most comprehensive collection of college, NFL, and ladies’ clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. If you’ve been looking for that elusive pair of 49er muk luks, your search ends here. They also carry gear for other sports in case football’s not your thing. Go to footballfanatics.com