Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Yankees continue their series against the Twins, the Angels host the Red Sox, and the Stars seek a win up in Calgary.

Barack Obama Nobel Prize not, repeat not a shock

Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy is the best in the business when it comes to predicting NFL spread and betting line in college football winners. However, he has also established himself as the top political handicapper, accurately predicting most major elections.

Here is what he said yesterday about the Nobel Peace Prize, “The Nobel Prize has become notoriously left-leaning, rarely missing a chance to take a political potshot at George W. Bush. Hence US President Barack Obama would be a reasonable long shot at 14/1.”

Admittedly not a movie fan whatsoever, Duffy has also accurately predicted long shots in the Oscar Awards based on political messages.

Case in point, Duffy CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com is 14-5 the last 19 with four MLB underdogs along the way.

Colliding on the gridiron . . .

The one college football game on tap for Friday night has Louisiana Tech at Nevada, with the Wolf Pack pegged as the 10.5-point home favorite (and the total at 58). Nevada pounded UNLV 63-28 last time out to grab their first win of the season; Mike Ball ran for five touchdowns in that contest. Louisiana Tech beat Hawaii 27-6 in their last game, as Daniel Porter ran for a pair of touchdowns.

As well, there’s a Canadian Football League game on the Friday schedule, with British Columbia at Edmonton. Oddsmakers have given the edge to the Eskimos, pegging them as the 4-point home favorites. The total for the game is 53 points.

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Meeting up on the diamond . . .

The Yankees will be looking to take a 2-0 lead in their ALDS with the Twins on Friday night when the teams play Game 2 in New York. The Yankees will send A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA) to the mound in that contest. Righthander Burnett beat the Rays in his last start of the regular season, holding them to one earned run over five innings of work. The Twins will counter Burnett with Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03 ERA). Minnesota won all of righthander Blackburn‘s last four outings.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox and Angels will play Game 2 of their ALDS later on Friday, with Josh Beckett (17-6, 3.86 ERA) taking on Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75 ERA). Righthander Beckett finished the regular season with two straight wins over the Indians and Royals, holding them to six earned runs over 11 innings of work. Righthander Weaver snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the A’s in his last outing, holding Oakland scoreless on three hits in his five innings.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

There are two games on the NHL’s schedule for Friday, with Florida at Carolina and Dallas at Calgary. The Stars have started the campaign at 0-0-2, falling in back-to-back shootouts vs. the Predators and Oilers. Brenden Morrow had two goals for Dallas in their last loss, while rookie Jamie Benn picked up his first NHL point. The Flames are a perfect 3-0-0 through their first three games of the season, collecting consecutive victories over the Canucks, Oilers, and Canadiens.

Tipping off on the hardwood . . .

The WNBA Finals come to a close on Friday, with Indiana at Phoenix in Game 5. The Mercury staved off elimination in Game 4 on Wednesday night, getting 22 points from Cappie Pondexter in the 90-77 road win. Penny Taylor added 17 points in the victory, while Tamika Catchings led the Indiana attack with 24 points.