Atlas and Chrome will be going head to head for the second time this season to kick off Week 7 in Colorado Springs. 

We got to see these two squads go at it back in Week 4, and it was the Bulls taking the win by a 16-10 scoreline.

Since then, Atlas has vaulted to the third seed in the league, and they’re going to have the chance to make a play at the top seed in the league over the final two weekends of the regular season.

On the other side, Chrome is sitting in sixth in the league at 2-4 and need to get something out of this weekend for some assurance heading to Albany for Week 8. 

With a doubleheader on tap for each squad, they’ll be looking to start the weekend right with a victory.

Who Ya Got? 

Atlas has come a long way since their seven percent days in PLL Pick ‘Em, as they are currently the favorites in the fans' eyes. They go in with 68 percent of fans picking them to win. 

The Bulls also currently sit as a -1.5 (-115) favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Rookie of the Year Race

Arguably the toughest race to call award-wise is the Rookie of the Year award. But we’ll have a chance to see three of the top rookies from this season go head-to-head.

On one sideline, you have a pair of top-10 picks in Jeff Teat and Jake Carraway. Teat, the first overall pick in the 2021 College Draft, has been lighting the league up, finishing with eight points in the team’s last outing back in Week 5. Carraway has become a great option alongside Teat and has five points in his last three outings. 

But Jackson Morrill will oppose the Bulls’ pairing. The fourth-rounder is looking like arguably the steal of the draft, as he’s taken over for Jordan Wolf as Chrome’s quarterback from behind the cage. He’s had just one point in his last two games, however, he had two-plus points in each of the four contests before that. 

We could be looking at the 2021 Rookie of the Year playing in this Week 7 opener. 

Molloy Makes his Debut

After a long wait, we’re finally going to have the chance to see Dylan Molloy don a PLL jersey and take the field with the Chrome after Tim Soudan picked him up from the Player Pool at the start of the week. 

This does come with a caveat, however, as Justin Guterding will not be making the trip to Colorado Springs. 

Guterding hasn’t produced at his usual clip, posting just six points in as many games this year, but Jordan Wolf’s absence likely doesn’t help his case due to their chemistry.

Molloy, the 2016 Tewaaraton winner with Brown, has been a consistent point producer during his time in the MLL, posting 59 and 42 points in 2018 and 2019, respectively. He also had eight goals and nine points in five games in the MLL bubble last summer. 

He’ll be able to give the Chrome offense a shot in the arm alongside the likes of Morrill and Colin Heacock for this doubleheader weekend. 

Among the other changes are the additions of Ryan Beville and Donny Moss to the lineup in lieu of Will Haus’ absence this weekend. 

Haus and Ryan Terefenko have combined to be one of the best defensive midfield units in the league this season. Beville will have to fill that void, and Moss will be able to serve a dual role, as he can also pick up a pole and help there. 

At 2-4, Chrome is going to need these guys to step up, as the likes of Eli Salama and James Barclay have in previous weeks.

Bulls without their backstop

For the second consecutive matchup, it’ll be JD Colarusso between the pipes for Atlas, as Jack Concannon has been ruled out again due to injury. 

Colarusso was able to help his team secure a win in their last outing against Chaos, making 10 saves in the process. 

If the Bulls are able to make a run at the top seed without their starter in the cage, it should give this team another big morale boost. 

They keep proving doubters wrong this year, and this would be another huge step towards a deeper playoff run if they can show well in this doubleheader with Colarusso backstopping them.

What’s at Stake?

This weekend could be make or break when it comes to Chrome. They sit alongside Chaos and the Cannons with two victories on the year. They need to come out and take at least one of these two games. 

The Cannons have already played their final doubleheader of the season, which could benefit Chrome depending on how the weekend unfolds. Chaos finishes the 2021 regular season with a doubleheader, which could shift the seeding right before the quarterfinals. 

Atlas can all but lock down a high seed with a solid showing this weekend. Their sights are firmly set on that first seed.