Mark Madden: Many experts have unrealistic expectations for Steelers

It’s the time of year when media members make their Pittsburgh Steelers predictions.

The vast majority lie, at least locally.

“About nine or 10 wins” will be a familiar refrain. But few will mean it.

Sports Illustrated caused commotion among the yinzers by predicting 6-11. One Pittsburgh media type wondered on Twitter why SI would pick such a disappointing record.

Maybe it’s because SI sees the Steelers as they are: A severely flawed team that will be minus their Hall of Fame quarterback for the first time since 2004.

Ben Roethlisberger was himself faulty his last few seasons. But Roethlisberger posting six fourth-quarter comeback wins and an overtime victory last season can’t be ignored and won’t be duplicated.

The Steelers might have the NFL’s worst offensive line. That alone points at sub-.500. It also points their quarterbacks toward the cart, then the emergency room. The Steelers will need all three QBs.

The Steelers play in a loaded AFC North.

Cincinnati has more weapons than the U.S. during the Reagan administration.

Baltimore and Cleveland will bludgeon. The Steelers take pride in being tough. They’re not as tough (or as good) as the Ravens and Browns. (Though the Browns will struggle till quarterback Deshaun Watson returns from suspension.)

But nonetheless: “About nine or 10 wins.” That will be the hometown sports point of view. Those will likely be the exact words of KDKA-TV’s Bob Pompeani.

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ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky has said that we tend to see the Steelers as they traditionally are even when they’re not.

Let’s add that the same applies specifically to the Steelers defense and to coach Mike Tomlin. We ignore the numbers and shower each with praise.

I make my official (gag) Steelers prediction each year on my radio show the Friday before their opener. I’m leaning toward 7-10, and the Steelers are a lot closer to worse than to better.

That shouldn’t necessarily be seen as disappointing.

Last year’s Week 18 miracle playoff berth was a last gasp, not a new beginning. Getting the Steelers back to the postseason seems a two-year process, at least.

Another writer at Sports Illustrated picked the Steelers to start 1-6, then rally to finish 9-8 because “a Tomlin team never lies down” and because Kenny Pickett will enter the fray.

That guy should move to Pittsburgh. He’d fit right in.

CBSSports.com predicts the Steelers to go 11-6, sweeping the Browns and splitting with the Bengals and Ravens.

That guy should be mayor of Pittsburgh. (Another writer at CBSSports.com predicts 8-9. It’s easier to be right if you make a bunch of different predictions.)

The Sporting News says 10-7. Maybe I’m the one who’s crazy.

Yahoo Sports says 7-10. Great minds, etc., etc.

A prediction isn’t supposed to reflect hometown confidence or meant to be a scathing indictment. It’s just a prediction. If it’s wrong, who cares? (Unless you bet big.)

Stan Fischler, the veteran hockey scribe, was the dark master of the twisted preseason prediction.

Fischler disliked the New York Rangers. So, as often as not, he picked them to win the Stanley Cup, thereby piling on the pressure and giving him license to label them disappointing when they (always) came up short, all while Rangers fans were none the wiser.

Which makes me wonder why I’m not picking the Steelers to win the Super Bowl.

The bookies get it as close to right as anybody. It’s their job.

The BetRivers online sportsbook has the Steelers’ over/under for wins at 7.5. That sounds about right. If you can’t pick with great faith, that’s the correct number. Makes me not bet. Gets close to equal wagering on both sides.

I wonder if any sportsbook allows betting on “about nine or 10 wins.”