Rome is real easy unless you put battle difficulty above medium or play with some seriously harsh iron-man rules. There's no danger of being destroyed at first because the Epirote army in southern Italy is small and weak and although you're at war with the Averni and Aediu to the north they'll never attack you until you conquer the rebel towns inbetween and share a border. The Aediu will also never attempt to conquer those towns between Mediolanum and Arretium that seperate the two of you, so you really cannot lose, and as soon as you take Tarentum and Rhegion the money flows like water through the Nile.

However, Rome is still in my opinion the most fun faction to play as.