Rival Views: Which program will have the strongest close to the 2017 cycle?

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate which program will finish the strongest down the stretch in the 2017 recruiting cycle.

MORE: Farrell's recruiting predictions | Over-performing classes

I’ll go out on a limb and say Alabama.

Since we can assume they will land in-state defensive end LaBryan Ray, and it would be difficult to strike out on both wide receiver targets Henry Ruggs and Devonta Smith, you know Alabama will be adding at least a couple of four-stars to their No. 1 class.

But what about Aubrey Solomon, the five-star defensive tackle from Georgia? The Dawgs are making a big push, but he loved his visit to Alabama and he’s talked often about wanting to get out of state. Four-star Jarez Parks is also considered by many to be an Alabama lean, but a lot depends on if they have room and how they feel about the depth at defensive line in the 2017 class. The Tide can get both in the end.

Alabama will likely shed a couple of commitments or send them to blue-shirt land to make room if everyone they target wants to come to Tuscaloosa, so it will be interesting to see how that shakes out.

USC, which is currently ranked No. 17 in the Rivals.com team recruiting rankings, is also poised for a strong close. The Trojans have only 15 commits and are well positioned with a number of highly-ranked targets. Similarly, Georgia, which currently checks in at No. 3 in the rankings, still has some top-tier players on the board.

But one thing you can always count on with Alabama under Nick Saban is a strong finish. And another is a surprise or two down the stretch. (Landing both Ruggs and Smith, stealing C.J. Henderson out of South Florida?) Is it too much to say the current No. 1 recruiting program in the country will finish strong even if they lose as many commitments as they add in the next few weeks if it’s by choice? Not in my book.

LSU already has a top-seven class with five-star commits JaCoby Stevens and Tyler Shelvin, and things could get much, much better heading to National Signing Day.

First-year coach Ed Orgeron is known for his recruiting prowess, and he’s going to have some serious competition in the final weeks, but Orgeron can get a lot of things done if things fall the right way for the Tigers.

Five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, rated as the second-best prospect in the class, is the top priority. Wilson is visiting LSU this weekend, and it could be huge for the Tigers to really set the tone for the last few weeks before the five-star makes his decision.

Not letting Wilson go is a huge priority for the Tigers, but he’s not the only one. Four-star WR Devonta Smith is a key target and so is four-star DE K’Lavon Chaisson, who was excellent at the recent Under Armour All-America game.

Those are some of the biggest names but not the only ones on LSU’s radar in the final weeks. There is in-state DT Phidarian Mathis, former USC commit Marlon Williams, four-star DB Todd Harris and others.

LSU is already doing a phenomenal job on the recruiting trail. The Tigers could really load up in the weeks before Signing Day and there are some big fish left to grab starting this weekend. And while programs like the aforementioned USC and Georgia are also positioned to finish the 2017 cycle well, the view here is that LSU will hit on their remaining big-name targets and close out the recruiting year on a high note, stronger than the competition.