(Sigh)

So much fuss over one word...

ex·pect verb \ik-ˈspekt\

: to think that something will probably or certainly happen

: to think that (someone or something) will arrive or that (something) will happen

: to consider (something) to be reasonable, required, or necessary

A couple of things:

To think or consider does not mean predict. It reflects a thought by one person.

And that again is modified by probably or certainly.

In any event, the statement clearly represents someone's view, and not an outright prediction.

IMHO, GLTA