I think he had RUTS aspirations. Normal Whitt takes points, but "hold them accountable Whitt" had a script that he was trying to follow. He wanted to go up big and then say something coming off the field at half time.
Everyone is blaming Scam Rising, but I think there is a case to blame Whitt directly here. I think he let his lust for revenge drive his decision making. Those six missing points loomed large in the 4th quarter when it was a six-point game.