Odds on Where 4-Star WR Mark Webb Commits on Friday

Prized Pennsylvania prospect Mark Webb plans to announce a college commitment Friday night at halftime of Archbishop Wood High School's game against Philadelphia powerhouse St. Joe's Prep.

The 4-star receiver, who is ready to conclude a widespread collegiate recruitment, revealed those intentions this week on Twitter:

The 6'2", 199-pound senior will compete in a nationally televised matchup Friday. Before his first snaps of the second half, he will provide one coaching staff with a pivotal pickup on the 2017 recruiting trail.

Rated No. 19 nationally among receivers, Webb listed the logos of six finalists on his tweet: Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State and nearby Temple.

He carries more than 20 total scholarship offers, receiving several of them before the end of his sophomore year. Webb responded with a career-best campaign last fall, averaging 25.4 yards per catch en route to 10 touchdown receptions. 

Now just days away from a highly anticipated pledge, let's take a look at which programs could be in the best position to pluck this coveted playmaker off the open market. We've assigned odds to each of his six finalists based on developments leading up to this decision.

Maryland and North Carolina: 12-1

Clearly, we don't expect Webb to land in the ACC or beyond his home state in the Big Ten. Both programs have displayed the ability to reach into the northern Mid-Atlantic region for talented athletes, but the battle has been uphill for a while.

The Tar Heels were once poised to maintain a paramount role in this recruitment. However, things have progressed rapidly since Webb told Barton Simmons of 247Sports last winter that North Carolina was one of his top two options.

An increased number of high-profile offers and travels elsewhere expanded his horizons and seemed to leave the Tar Heels tumbling back toward the pack. Webb will use at least four official visits following his commitment, according to Ryan Bartow of 247Sports, but the fact that his anticipated itinerary doesn't include North Carolina or Maryland speaks volumes.

Temple: 10-1

Fittingly, Temple plays Penn State in Happy Valley this Saturday, setting up a showdown between Webb's top in-state options. The Owls certainly have an edge in proximity, but a lack of Power Five inclusion will always be a hurdle to overcome when targeting top-tier recruits.

Despite the presence of SEC heavyweights, Temple remained persistent in its push for Webb. Head coach Matt Rhule, fresh off a 10-win 2015 season, is selling the Owls more impressively than ever before, and it paid dividends last signing day.

Temple secured Archbishop Wood quarterback Anthony Russo, a former Rutgers commit and Elite 11 finalist, in February. Regardless of what happens Friday, the Owls will host Webb for an official visit, according to Bartow.

Penn State: 6-1

The Nittany Lions pushed out to the forefront of this recruitment early on, which should come as no surprise for a program that's managed to predominantly pick and choose premier Pennsylvania prospects for decades. Early vibes toward Penn State have dissipated, though, and it's become clear Webb is leaning toward a collegiate career in the South.

Head coach James Franklin and his staff have largely struggled to secure elite receiver talent during recent cycles, which can probably be attributed to the program's offensive inconsistency. Even with former 5-star quarterback Christian Hackenberg at the helm for two seasons, Penn State's passing attack has been particularly shaky under this regime.

Just 15-13 in Happy Valley, Franklin will undoubtedly face mounting pressure this season unless signs of improvement are evident across the field. Perhaps an increased display of firepower could sway Webb back toward the Nittany Lions, who will host him for an official visit, according to Bartow.

Alabama: 5-1

While the Crimson Tide can't promise the immense opportunity for early playing time that would likely await Webb at Penn State, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin has a much stronger foundation to stand on when it comes to his attack.

Alabama's roster features two impressive freshman quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts and Blake Barnett, while Elite 11 MVP and top-ranked 2017 dual-threat quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to enter the mix next year.

The freshman-season success of Calvin Ridley attracted attention from young pass-catchers across the country, though it's important to note he was the No. 1 overall receiver in his class and arguably could have instantly dominated on campuses across the country. Webb spent time in Tuscaloosa this summer, returning home with a strong impression of the program. 

Head coach Nick Saban has limited slots remaining in his 2017 receiver class, and several highly regarded recruits have shown interest in filling them. If the door is open for Webb to commit right now, there are no guarantees that it will remain the case through the remainder of this cycle.

Jeff Sentell of DawgNation noted Alabama is a team on the rise in this race, going so far as to call the Crimson Tide "perhaps a co-leader for Webb" this week. Alabama is also in line to land an official visit here, per Bartow.

Georgia: 2-1

The Bulldogs are widely viewed as a significant favorite heading into Friday, a trend well-documented in 247Sports' Crystal Ball. Georgia claims 19 consecutive experts' commitment predictions dating back to May, including recent projections from reporters who closely cover other contenders (Penn State insider Sean Fitz and Alabama insider Hank South).

It's fair to say there would be a slight sense of shock across the board if Webb announces plans to head anywhere other than Athens. As mentioned before, his recruitment won't necessarily end with Friday's pledge due to upcoming official visit plans, though Georgia is expected to receive one, according to Bartow.

Head coach Kirby Smart has assembled one of college football's premier classes during his first full recruiting cycle at Georgia, flipping Elite 11 finalist Jake Fromm from Alabama to provide competition for celebrated true-freshman quarterback Jacob Eason in the years ahead. However, his biggest addition as it pertains to Webb is Philadelphia standout D'Andre Swift.

The blue-chip running back is a close friend of Webb, who told Sentell this summer there was "a 100 percent chance those two would go to the same school." Swift, who pledged to Georgia on Sept. 1 via a Bleacher Report video, will be on the field Friday for St. Joe's Prep, and we expect him to welcome a new member to the Bulldogs' talent-packed class at halftime.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.