[thejeff]

I haven't done this, but I'd assume the technique is to have fast expansion which doesn't rely on research, then lever that expansion into lots of labs.
Unless you start with an awake research pretender your research will suck at the end of 8 turns. You'll have to make up that deficit later, with more labs & castles.
I'd say the easiest way would be to start with a high bless nation, Mictlan or Niefleheim, for example. You hardly need researchers at all to beat the AI. Do that on tight map to let you fight and win earlier in the game.
I have my doubts about pulling it off with a mage (rather than sacred or thug) based nation.