I understand your point and going for it and not succeeding would have netted the same result. I think if he has his starting QB then he punts and plays for OT. But with that QB they have who does not throw well, he probably views his chances of scoring a TD in OT as pretty low. But I understand the thought and am not defending Scrat.
the bigger erroneous error IMO was UGA last possession. They had 2nd and 5 with 13 sceonds left and no timeouts, USCe is playing the sidelines. Just throw a seven yard pass over the middle. Clock stops. Spike it. then attempt a FG. Horrendous game management. So simple yet almost no coach can do it.