HOUSTON (AP) _ If not for the unseasonably steamy weather, Rice punter Travis Hale might have skipped his shower.

Anthony Griffin scored three touchdowns and Rice's offensive dominance was so complete the Owls needed nary a punt Saturday in a 49-7 victory over San Jose State.

Griffin scored untouched on runs of 13 and 43 yards and a 31-yard pass from Chad Richardson, who had two rushing touchdowns himself. Rice finished off seven of its 10 total possessions with touchdowns.

The midday game was played in unusually balmy conditions even by Houston standards. Players from both teams huddled near misting fans as on-field temperatures soared well above 90 degrees in drenching humidity.

Rice coach Ken Hatfield said he thought the weather was a factor.

"It was about 60 degrees at their place all week, and then coming down here you know as well as I do it's popped off about as hot as it has been in a long time," Hatfield said.

Rice (4-3, 3-0 Western Athletic Conference) rolled up 413 rushing yards on a school-record 81 carries while its defense forced four turnovers and held San Jose State (3-4, 1-2) to 23 yards on the ground.

Rice jumped ahead first when Richardson capped off a nearly 10-minute first-quarter drive with a 1-yard TD run.

The Owls picked up the pace in the second quarter as the Spartans appeared to wither. Griffin was wide open for his scoring catch after a play fake by Richardson, then on the next drive weaved up the middle 13 yards to score.

"They're a little deceiving in carrying out their fakes," San Jose State linebacker Ron-Jon Acuna said. "It's a simple offense when you look at it on film, but it's deceptive when it's on the field, especially when you miss assignments."

Jamie Tyler's 2-yard dive gave Rice a 28-0 halftime lead. Griffin's second scoring run and a 7-yard keeper by Richardson widened the gap before San Jose State finally broke through.

The Spartans, trying to prevent their second straight shutout in Texas after a 42-0 loss to Texas Christian last week, got on the board late in the third quarter with a 3-yard TD run by Casey LeBlanc.

Derek Gary, who led Rice with 101 rushing yards despite not entering the game until late in the first half, topped off the Owl barrage with a 9-yard score in the final quarter.