I'm not quite as cynical as to say that Flake refusing to vote kavanaugh to the floor is the same as voting to confirm. By doing what he's done he's covered his flank (by voting aye out of committee) but orchestrated a situation by which if he doesn't stick to his word he'll be in for a thousand times the treatment that caused him to back off today. He invited political pressure if he caved. Not a guarantee by any means but that's why I'm not as cynical. Not AS cynical. Still deeply skeptical it will amount to anything in the end.
Still; the way the hearings have gone it seems the most likely thing is that kavanaugh's story isn't going to hold up to even the thinnest investigation and his poll numbers have tanked in the past couple days after already being underwater. Waiting a week for an investigation could spur him to withdraw before the investigation is finished.