I can’t speak for others in all the various threads, but at least for me there is a difference between hope/speculation and expectation. I didn’t expect him to have an impact or to finish any better than what he did, but it was fun to speculate on how he could have an impact and hope for that scenario.
It is no different than any other sport where people are fans of a huge underdog. At a certain level, this is what makes competition universal enjoyed.