The opening day of the National Park Playoff provided no surprises as each region’s #1 seed rolled to an easy victory against their respective #16s. Grand Canyon posted the biggest such win, dominating Great Basin 33-2. In the Pacific region, #1 Yosemite rolled past #16 American Samoa 32-5. Contests on the right side of the bracket were marginally closer, with Yellowstone besting Gates of the Arctic 32-8 and Great Smoky Mountains over Dry Tortugas 27-8 in the East. All four parks will get nine days off before their second round matchups against next Monday’s 8/9 game winners.

Predictive brackets generally cleaned up, with a 95% success rate on the purportedly easiest day of competition to predict. One bracket scored only 50% success, selecting both American Samoa and Dry Tortugas to advance. Another predictor also chose Dry Tortugas, and a third put Gates of the Arctic into the second round.

First Round action continues today with 2/15 matchups. Vote and share on Twitter!