The prediction ritual is an obligatory canticle. It's a space filler and a chance to parade your bona fides in an effort to be considered as a baseball expert. At the end they get to crow about being "right" or draw attention to their humility about being "wrong". Plus, 162 games is just too long to wait for an outcome, and besides the games are boring. What fun would it be just to watch them? People need bets and other things to pay attention to. Knowing what you're talking about is not a requirement for these trite litanies.